1761*18P5. 


lesb^^tevian  Cburcb, 


iiiorc.  m^. 


^n^  iproQrces, 


.  prvtiic:^  miiison,  D.  D. 


9211 
.  B347 

A44 
18BQ 


'foietorical  ©iecouree, 


■|Rcx>.  5obn  C.  .I6acftu0,  D.  D. 


NOV   1    18B0 


■pv{- 


1761*1895. 

jfivst  Presbyterian  Cburcb, 

Baltimore,  fll^^, 


IRiee  an&  proorcee, 

IRev.  Ipatric!?  BUison,  H).  2). 
1793. 


Ibietorical  ©iecoure^c, 


36v 


IRev.  5obn  C.  JSacftu?.  £>.  S>. 


1859. 


crr^rh 


ro. 


NOV  1   ueo 


^iCALSEtt^^ 


BALTIMORE  : 
STANLEY   STIRLING    &    CO., 

1895. 


An  Historical  Discourse  on  the  First  Presbyterian  Church, 
delivered  on  the  last  Sabbath  of  September.  1859,  by  the  Rev. 
John  C.  Backus,  D.  D.,  fourth  Pastor,  havin.vf  long  been  out 
of  print,  The  Session  and  The  Committee  have  reprinted  it 
for  the  information  of  the  present  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tion— and  have  prefixed  thereto  an  original  sketch  of  the  Rise 
and  Progress  of  the  Church  up  to  1793,  as  prepared  by  the 
Rev.  Patrick  Allison,  D.  D.,  first  Pastor.  The  last  named 
Paper  is  in  the  archives  of  the  Presbyterian  Historical  Society 
of  Philadelphia,  and  is  now  published  for  the  first  tuut^. 

Baltimore,  December  i.  1895. 


AN 


HISTORICAL    DISCOURSE; 


ox    TAKINCt    leave    ok    the    old    CHIKCH    EDIFICE    OF    THE 
FIRST  PRESBYTERIAN  CONGREGATION   IN  BALTIMORE. 


BY 

JOHN  C.   BACKUS, 

PAST<1K    OF    THE    CHIRCII. 


DISCOURSE. 


PSALM    LXXVIII,    2—4. 

"  I  WILI.  UTTER  DARK  SAYINGS  OF  OLD  :  WHICH  WE  HAVE 
HEARD  AND  KNOWN,  AND  OUR  FATHERS  HAVE  TOI.D  US.      WE 

wili.  not  hide  them  from  their  children.  shewing  to 
the  generations  to  come  the  praises  of  the  lord  and 
His  strength,    and   His   wonderful    works   that   Hk 

HATH  done." 

To-day  we  assemble  for  the  last  time  in  this  our 
long  accustomed  place  of  worship.  There  are  few  pro- 
bably belonging  to  this  congregation,  who  are  wholly 
unaffected  by  the  thought,  that  a  spot  so  long  the 
scene  of  our  religious  solemnities,  hallowed  by  the 
prayers  of  so  many  among  the  venerated  dead,  and 
rendered  sacred  by  associations  so  solemn  and  tender 
in  the  experience  of  many  still  among  the  living,  is 
about  to  be  resigned  into  other  hands,  to  be  employed 
for  valuable  but  very  difrerent  purposes.     Voluntarily 


14 

indeed,  at  what  seems  a  call  of  Providence,  but  with 
no  feelings  of  indifference,  do  we  leave  these  vener- 
able walls,  these  familiar  pews,  this  endeared  place 
of  our  sacramental   observances,    this   sacred   desk. 
Here  many  of  you  have  been   dedicated   to   God   in 
baptism,  first  listened  to  the  public  proclamations  of 
the  gospel,  became  enlightened  in  the  saving  know- 
ledge of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  openly  espoused 
his  cause  and  professed  his  name.     What  wrestlings 
in  prayer  have  been  here  witnessed,  what  effusions 
of  the  spirit  received,  what  seasons  of  communion 
enjoyed  ?     You  have  worshiped  here  with   pastors, 
parents,  husbands,  wives,  children,  brothers,  sisters, 
companions,  friends,  who  were  very  lovely  and  pleas- 
ant in  their  lives,  but  are  now  no  more,  having  been 
removed  to  the  upper  sanctuary.     To  some  of  ardent 
sensibilities    and    fervid    imaginations,     "the    very 
stones  seem  to  cry  out  of  the  wall,  and  the  beam  out 
of  the  timber."     These  ceilings  might  seem  to  some 
frescoed  all  over  like  the  ceilings  of  the  Vatican,  only 
here   invisible   to  the  eye  of  sense,   with  what  has 
been  heard,  felt,  resolved,  done  within  these  courts. 
The  power  of  association  ministers  the  warmth  and 
light,  which  bring  out  into  distinct  view  the  unper- 
ceived  writing  of  the  memory.     It  is  not  surprising 
that  many  of  3^ou  take  leave  with  solemn  and  tender 


If) 

regret  of  a  place  rendered  sacred  by  so  many  associa- 
tions. It  must  be  remembered  however  that  these 
are  valuable,  not  on  their  own  account,  but  because 
of  their  relation  to  the  end  with  reference  to  which 
this  principle  has  been  implanted  in  the  human  con- 
stitution. This  power  of  association  is  a  part  of  that 
delicate  mechanism,  by  which  a  wise  Providence  is 
pleased  to  keep  alive  healthful  impressions,  for  the 
sake  of  their  influence  upon  the  character  and  destinv 
of  men.  And  the  moment  they  are  so  cherished  as 
to  interfere  with  their  legitimate  ends,  an  important 
principle  of  our  nature  is  perverted,  and  becomes  a 
savor  of  death  unto  death,  instead  of  life  unto  life. 
As  long  as  this  building  is  suited  to  promote  the 
ends  for  which  it  was  erected,  these  associations  tend 
to  further  its  design,  and  may  render  it  more  pleasant 
and  profitable  to  those  who  assemble  here.  But 
when,  for  any  reasons,  it  ceases  to  be  suitable  for  this, 
our  still  clinging  to  it  merely  because  of  such  a.sso- 
ciations,  would  become  rather  hurtful  than  profitable, 
and  convert  our  Bethel  or  House  of  God  into  a 
Bethhaven  or  House  of  Vanity.  Bowing  therefore 
to  what  seems  a  plain  intimation  of  God's  providence, 
we  have  come  this  day  to  take  our  final  leave.  And 
in  .so  doing,  desiring  to  direct  your  meditations  in 
some  congenial  channel,  I  have  thought  tliat  it  might 


16 

be  both  interesting  and  profitable,  to  spend  these  last 
moments  in  reviewing  the  history  of  God's  dealings 
with  the  congregation,  during  its  occupancy  of  this 
sacred  edifice. 

It  may  be  well  however  briefly  to  premise,  that  the 
origin  of  this  church,  like  that  of  most  of  the 
churches,  which  came  into  existence  in  the  earlier 
periods  of  the  history  of  this  country,  is  involved  in 
some  obscurit3\  Composed  at  first  of  very  few 
families,  imperfectly  organized,  and  worshiping,  like 
the  primitive  christians,  in  private  houses  and  upper 
rooms,  they  came  very  gradually  into  the  form  of 
regularly  constituted  bodies.  There  seems  to  have 
been  quite  earl}'  a  small  band  of  Presbyterians, 
sparsely  scattered  over  this  region.  In  the  minutes 
of  the  mother  Presbytery  in  this  country,  there  is  a 
record,  under  the  date  of  September  21st,  17 15,  to 
this  effect  ;  Mr.  James  Gordon  having  presented  a 
call  from  the  people  of  Baltimore  county  in  Maryland 
to  Mr.  Hugh  Conn,  the  Presbytery  called  for,  con- 
sidered and  approved  the  said  Mr.  Conn's  credentials, 
and  made  arrangements  for  his  ordination  among  the 
abovesaid  people.  In  1740  Mr.  Whitfield,  after  his 
first  visit  through  this  region,  says  that  he  found  a 
close  opposition  from  the  Presbyterians  in  Baltimore. 
In   1 75 1   Mr.  (afterwards  President)  Davies  sent  Dr. 


17 

Bellamy  of  New  England,  an  account  of  an  extraor- 
dinary revival  of  religion  about  here,  and  says  that 
he  learned  that  Mr.  Whittlesey,  a  Presbyterian  min- 
ister, was  about  to  settle  in  this  region.  Dr.  William 
L^'on,  and  at  least  some  others  who  originally  formed 
this  church,  had  then  resided  here  some  years.  In 
1760,  as  we  learn  from  a  manascript'*'  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Presbj^terian  Historical  Society,  Donegal 
Presb3'tery  appointed  Mr.  John  Steele  to  preach  one 
Sabbath  in  Baltimore.  In  1761  Mr.  Hector  Alison 
preached  here  several  Sabbaths  ;  and  application  was 
made  by  the  Presbyterians  of  Baltimore  town  to  the 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle  on  his  behalf.  But  on 
their  sending  a  commission  here  in  November,  1761, 
it  was  judged  that  the  proposals  were  so  unsatis- 
factory, that  it  was  inexpedient  to  suifer  such  a  call 
to  be  placed  in  his  hands.  The  congregation  was 
small,  without  a  house  of  worship,  and  unable  to 
support  a  minister.  Mr.  Alison  removed  soon  after 
to  Williamsburg,  South  Carolina,  where  he  died. 
As  he  had  been  ordained  in  1746,  he  in  all  probability 
had  a  family,  which  would  render  it  more  dithcult  to 
sustain  him. 

These  facts  make  it  evident,  that  previous  to  1761 

*This  is  one  of  the  papers  placed  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Green  by  the  C.ciuTal 
Assembly  for  the  purpose  of  preparing  a  history  of  the  Presbyterian  churcli. 


18 

there  was  a  small  congregation  ot  Presb3^terians  in 
Baltimore,  meeting  together  for  public  worship, 
seeking  and  receiving  supplies  from  the  nearest 
Presbyteries,  and  earnestly  desiring  a  settled  min- 
istry'. Dr.  Patrick  Allison  however,  the  first  stated 
minister  of  the  church,  considered  the  year  1761  as 
the  date  of  its  more  formal  commencement.  In  a 
brief  history-  of  the  congregation,  which  he  prepared 
by  direction  of  the  General  Assembl)-  and  of  the 
Presbytery  near  the  close  of  his  ministr}^ — which  has 
been  preserved  and  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Presby- 
terian Historical  Society — he  sa3'S  :  "In  1 761  the 
advantageous  situation  of  the  town  of  Baltimore,  in- 
duced a  few  Presbyterian  families  to  remove  here 
from  Pennsylvania,  and  these,  with  two  or  three 
others  of  the  same  persuasion,  who  had  emigrated 
directly  from  Europe,  formed  themselves  into  a 
religious  societ3^  and  had  occasional  supplies,  assem- 
bling in  private  houses,  though  liable  to  prosecution 
on  this  account,  as  the  province  groaned  under  a 
religious  establishment."  Among  the  original  ones 
was  Dr.  William  Lyon,  from  the  north  of  Ireland. 
Among  those  said  to  have  come  from  Pennsylvania, 
were  Messrs.  John  Smith  and  William  Buchanan, 
who  removed  here  from  Carlisle  in  1761  ;  and  were 
followed  the  next   year  by    Messrs.    William   Smith 


39 

and  James  Sterret,  from  Lancaster  county  ;  and  soon 
after  by  Messrs.  Mark  Alexander,  John  Brown,  Ben- 
jamin Griffith,  Robert  Purviance,  and  Wm.  Spear, 
from  different  parts  of  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland  ; 
Drs.  John  and  Henry  Stephenson,  from  Ireland  :  and 
Mr.  Jonathan  Plowman,  from  England. 

In  May,  1763,  and  again  in  August  following,  they 
requested  the  Presbytery  of  Philadelphia  to  send  Mr. 
Patrick  Allison  to  preach  to  them — their  attention 
having  been  directed  to  him,  as  I  learned  from  the 
late  Robert  Purviance,  Esq.,  by  some  youth  from 
Baltimore,  who  were  pursuing  their  studies  in  New- 
ark Academy,  where  Mr.  Allison  was  acting  as  tutor. 
Although  invited  at  the  same  time  to  become  the 
pastor  of  what  was  then  a  much  larger  church  in 
New  Castle,  Delaware,  his  prudent  foresight  led  him 
to  express  his  preference  to  accept  the  call  from  this 
church,  to  which  accordingly  the  Presbytery  sent 
him,  and  in  which  he  continued  till  his  death  in  1802. 
Very  soon  after  he  came  here,  the  congregation 
leased  (December  5th,  1763)  two  lots  on  Fayette 
(then  called  East)  street,  in  the  rear  of  the  edifice  at 
present  occupied  by  Christ  Church,  on  the  corner  of 
Gay  street.  There  they  erected  a  small  log  church, 
which  in  about  two  years  was  sold  to  Mr.  Charles 
Ridgely.     About  the  time  that   I  came  to  Baltimore 


20 

(twenty-three  years  ago)  it  was  used  as  a  carpenter's 
shop,  which  some  now  present  no  doubt  remember — 
one  having  himself  worked  in  it.  In  March,  1765, 
feeling  the  disadvantages  of  worshiping  in  so  poor 
and  incommodious  a  building,  they  purchased  a  part 
(eighty  feet)  of  the  present  sight  from  Alexander 
Lawson.  In  1772  this  was  added  to,  the  remaining 
portion  of  the  lot  being  leased  from  Andrew  Buchanan 
and  afterwards  purchased  in  fee.  Here  they  erected 
a  plain  brick  church,  forty-five  feet  long  b}^  thirty- 
five  feet  wide,  containing  thirty-six  pews.  The 
building  was  completed  in  November,  1766,  and  all 
the  pews  rented  except  two.  In  1771  that  building 
was  enlarged  one-third,  so  as  to  contain  more  than 
fifty  pews.  About  eighteen  years  after  this  enlarge- 
ment, (1789,)  the  congregation  finding  the  house  still 
too  strait  for  them,  met  together,  and  after  some 
deliberation  resolved  to  erect  the  present  edifice.  It 
was  made  ready  for  occupancy  in  1791  ;  and  after 
some  time  the  portico  and  towers  were  added,  and 
the  building  was  completed,  then  one  of  the  largest 
and  finest  church  edifices  in  the  country — an  orna- 
ment to  the  city,  and  a  credit  to  the  congregation. 

The  period  from  that  date  to  the  present  time,  em- 
braces the  history  that  I  desire  briefly  to  review,  in 
the  hope  of  awakening  our  gratitude,   deepening  our 


21 

sense  of  obligation,  and  constraining  our  more  de- 
voted consecration  to  the  great  purposes,  for  which 
this  building  was  erected,  and  in  which  it  has  been 
so  long,  and  we  may  hope  not  unprofitabh-.  em- 
ployed. With  this  view  permit  mc  to  direct  your 
attention  to  the  period  of  the  world  in  which  it  has 
existed,  the  human  instrumentalities  with  which  it 
has  been  favored,  the  divine  blessings  it  has  enjoyed, 
and  the  services  it  has  been  enabled,  under  God,  to 
render  to  this  communit}',  to  the  country  and  to  the 
world.  The  theme  is  one  of  wide  extent,  and  the 
time,  which  it  is  proper  to  devote  to  this  exercise, 
will  onh'  permit  me  to  glance  cursorily  at  the  topics, 
\vhich  have  been  suggested  for  your  consideration. 

I.  Let  us  then  first  take  a  brief  view  of  the  period, 
which  had  just  dawned  when  this  edifice  was  being 
reared,  with  special  reference  to  its  bearing  upon  the 
objects  to  which  christian  churches  are  devoted. 

1.  Then,  if  I  mistake  not,  had  the  rights  of  man 
come  to  be  recognized,  in  the  establishment  of  this 
free  government,  with  more  distinctness  than  ever 
before.  The  great  struggle  for  civil  and  religious 
liberty,  which  had  been  going  on  for  ages,  then 
achieved  a   most   remarkable  success.      The  federal 


22 

constitution  had  just  been  adopted  and  this  new  born 
republic  had  commenced  its  career  of  unexampled 
prosperity,  affording  the  widest  field  for  the  great 
mission  of  the  christian  church. 

It  has  been  said  that  winter,  which  seems  so  like 
the  death  of  nature,  is  in  reality  its  birth — the 
season  when  its  buds  and  germs  are  insensibly  and 
mysteriously  maturing  for  their  bloom  and  fragrance 
in  the  spring.  So  the  period,  which  preceded  the 
colonization  of  this  country,  was  the  winter  and 
seemed  to  be  the  death  of  human  liberties.  But  in 
it  were  conceived  those  principles  to  which  civiliza- 
tion and  freedom  owe  more  than  to  any  other.  At 
no  previous  time,  in  no  other  country,  had  the  great 
principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty  been  more 
clearly  developed,  than  in  Great  Britain  during  the 
time  of  the  Puritans.  Those  great  events,  which 
marked  the  preceding  century  as  one  of  the  most 
glorious  in  the  history  of  the  world,  and  which 
roused  christians  from  the  long  sleep  of  the  middle 
ages,  had  begun  to  work  out  their  beneficent  results 
and  to  put  a  new  aspect  on  society.  The  revival  of 
letters  through  the  influence  of  Grecian  scholars,  who 
were  dispersed  over  Europe  on  the  fall  of  the  Eastern 
Empire — the  introduction  of  that  new  and  better 
method  of  investigation,  whose   exposition  has  made 


Bacon's  name  so  illustrious — the  perfection  of  the 
compass,  opening  new  fields  of  discovery,  and  in- 
creasing the  facilities  of  intercourse  between  dis- 
tant nations — the  invention  of  gunpowder,  which  has 
changed  the  whole  art  of  war  by  putting  into  the 
hands  of  genius  and  skill  a  power  to  resist  brute 
force,  thus  affording  right  a  protection  against  mere 
might — the  invention  of  printing,  by  which  know- 
ledge was  diffused  and  made  common  property — the 
reformation  of  the  sixteenth  century,  in  which  indi- 
vidual responsibility,  the  right  and  dut}^  of  private 
judgment,  were  asserted  and  established,  involving 
the  germ  of  equal  rights,  and  the  true  foundation  of 
self  government — these  great  events,  to  which  human 
civilization  owes  so  much,  had  not  only  taken  place, 
but  had  brought  forth  their  first  fruits. 

The  Presbyterian  body,  with  which  we  are  con- 
nected was  among  the  last  of  the  religious  denomina- 
tions, that  obtained  a  distinct  and  permanent  settle- 
ment in  the  countr3\  The  persecutions  which  drove 
so  many  of  the  earlier  colonists  to  these  shores,  fell 
first  upon  the  Independents,  the  Quakers  and  the 
Catholics.  The  Presbj'terian,  being  the  established 
Church  of  Scotland,  was  not  directly  molested  by 
James  after  he  ascended  the  English  throne.  And 
w^hen,  in  the  reign  of  his  infatuated  son.  the  attempt 


24 

to   accomplish   its   overthrow   was   made,  it  led  to  a 
protracted   struggle,    which    continually   encouraged 
hopes  of  the  success,   with  which  it  was  eventually 
crowned.     When  the  earlier  colonists  emigrated,  the 
agitations  out  of  which   came   those   principles  that 
received  so  glorious  a  development  in  the  time  of  the 
commonwealth,  had  but  just  commenced.     The  later 
colonists  were  retained   in   a  school,  in   which  these 
great  principles  of  civil  and  religious  liberty,  although 
by  dear  bought  lessons,  were  more  effectual!}^  taught. 
And  thus  was  there  a   more  complete  preparation  for 
asserting  them  in  our   Declaration  of  Independence. 
I    need    not    dwell   upon   the  progress   and  glorious 
issue  of  that    revolutionar}^    struggle.       When    this 
church  was   erected,  that   w^ar  had   closed,  the  inde- 
pendence of  the  countr}^  was  acknowledged,  the  Fed- 
eral  constitution  was  adopted,  and  the  freest  people 
on  the  face  of  the  earth  were  launched  on  a  career  of 
prosperity  and   glory,   of  which   the   world   has   wit- 
nessed no  equal  example.     "  The  political  system  of 
Europe  was  indeed,  as  has  been   said,  just  plunging 
into  a  state  of  frightful   disintegration.     The   reigns 
of  the  olde'st   monarchies   were  slipping,  besmeared 
with    blood,    from    the    hands  of  the    descendant    of 
thirty  generations  of  kings.     But  although  the  United 
States  were  drawn  at  first,  to  some  extent,  into  the 


outer  circles  of  the  terrific  maelstrom,  they  soon 
escaped  and  continued  safely  on  their  course."*  And 
from  this  time  has  the  country  afforded  one  the  most 
favored  fields  for  the  enjoyment  and  promotion  of 
religion,  to  be  found  on  the  earth. 

2.  Then  too  had  just  commenced  the  age  of  the 
greatest  improvements  in  everything  pertaining  to  the 
material  interests  of  societ}'.  In  no  similar  period 
have  science  and  art  made  such  advances,  more 
especially  in  the  direction  of  human  comfort  and 
well  being.  Almost  ceasing  to  be  pursued  as  mere 
matters  of  speculation,  curiosity,  or  intellectual  grat- 
ification, they  had  begun  to  be  studied  and  practiced 
with  more  indefatigable  assiduit}^  with  reference  to 
the  great  practical  purposes  of  life — relieving  human 
drudgery  and  multiplying  human  comforts.  So  that 
it  has  come  to  pass  that  no  investigation  in  science  is 
so  recondite,  no  speculation  in  philosophy  is  so  dar- 
ing, that  we  do  not  expect  from  it  some  useful  prac- 
tical result,  some  new  power  over  matter,  some  valu- 
able accession  to  human  welfare.  Every  natural  law 
and  agency  has  been  put  into  .requisition  ;  the  wind, 
the  waves,  steam,  electricity,  magnetism,  have  all 
been  harnessed  to  the  car  of  improvement  and  made  to 

*  Edward  Everett. 


26 

work  for  man,  propelling  his  machines,  manufactur- 
ing his  food  and  fabrics,  transporting  his  merchan- 
dise, transmitting  his  messages,  and  diffusing  know- 
ledge. The  productions  of  human  industry,  the 
achievements  of  human  enterprise  have  thus  been 
increased  ten  thousand  fold  ;  the  necessaries,  the 
comforts,  and  the  luxuries  of  life  have  been  greatly 
cheapened.  So  that  the  laborer  can  now  live,  eat, 
dress  and  move  about,  better  than  princes  of  former 
centuries,  and  at  the  same  time  redeem  leisure  for 
mental  and  moral  improvement.  The  average  dura- 
tion of  human  life  too  has  been  not  inconsiderably 
lengthened  by  the  advancements  that  have  been  made 
in  the  science  of  medicine,  the  improvements  that 
have  been  brought  about  in  political  economy,  and 
the  increase  that  has  taken  place  in  the  comforts  of 
living.  And  while  man  has  been  relieved  from  so 
much  of  the  drudgery  of  toil,  knowledge  has  been 
increased,  not  only  by  the  discoveries  of  science,  but 
also  by  multiplying  the  means  of  education  in  com- 
mon schools,  by  cheapening  books  and  newspapers, 
awakening  inquiry  and  diffusing  intelligence.  At 
the  same  time  remote  Continents  and  separated  people 
have  been  brought  into  closer  proximity.  For, 
while  the  distances  on  the  globe  are  the  same  at  this 
day  as  at  the  creation  of  the  world,  the  facilities  of 


27 

communication  have  brought  Europe,  Asia  and 
Africa  virtually  as  near  to  this  country  now,  as  its 
present  extremities  were  to  each  other  two  centuries 
ago.  When  then  we  consider  that  it  is  the  great 
object  of  the  church  to  raise  man  to  his  true  dignity, 
happiness  and  glory,  through  the  gospel  of  Christ, 
and  to  extend  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  throughout 
the  world,  is  it  not  a  privilege  to  have  existed,  as  a 
congregation,  during  a  period  in  which  such  material 
facilities  have  been  afforded  for  its  proper  work. 

3.  To  this  we  may  add  that  the  period,  when  this 
church  was  erected,  introduced  an  era,  especially  in 
this  countr}',  of  very  gracious  revivals  of  religion. 
"  In  the  year  1792,"  says  Dr.  Griffin,  "commenced 
that  series  of  general  revivals,  which  has  greatly  dis- 
tinguished the  American  churches  and  has  never 
been  entirely  interrupted,  and  may  we  not  hope  from 
present  indications,  never  will  be  till  the  whole  earth 
is  filled  with  the  glory  of  the  Lord."  Seasons  of 
special  religious  awakening  date  indeed  as  far  back 
as  the  days  of  Seth,  and  may  be  traced  through  those 
of  Joshua,  Josiah,  Ezra,  John  the  Baptist,  Pentecost, 
the  Reformation,  and  the  revival  in  the  first  half  of 
the  last  century  in  connection  with  the  labors  of  the 
Wesleys  and  Whitfield.     The}-  seem  to  have   consti- 


28 

tuted  the  divine  method  of  promoting  religion  under 
different  dispensations  in  all  ages.  These  however 
were  widely  separated  eras. 

After  the  last  of  these  great  awakenings,  which 
proved  so  great  a  blessing  to  this  country  as  well  as 
to  Great  Britain,  an  unusual  decline  in  religion  had 
manifestly  taken  place.  From  the  year  1745  to  that 
of  1792,  the  Hol}^  Spirit  withheld,  in  a  great  measure, 
his  general  copious  influences.  The  fifty  years,  that 
followed  that  season  of  refreshing,  were  5^ears  of  war 
and  civil  commotion  in  this  land  ;  first,  by  reason  of 
the  conflict  of  twenty  years  between  France  and 
England  for  the  ascendancy  on  this  continent  ;  then, 
of  the  struggle  of  the  colonies  for  independence  ;  and 
lastly,  of  the  unsettled  state  of  the  public  mind, 
which  preceded  the  adoption  of  the  federal  constitu- 
tion. 

These  causes,  in  connection  with  the  constant 
anxiety  produced  b}'  the  incursions  of  hostile  In- 
dians, and  the  toils  and  hardships  incident  to  the 
settlement  of  a  new  country,  kept  the  minds  of  the 
great  mass  of  this  people  so  agitated,  that  religion 
was  almost  overlooked  and  forgotten,  and  Zion  lan- 
guished. The  crimes  and  vices,  which  everywhere 
prevailed,  the  dissipation,  profaneness.  Sabbath  dese- 
cration and  infidelity,  which  camp-life,  in  connection 


29 

with  French  influence,  engendered,  together  with  the 
destitutions  and  wants  of  the  new  settlements,  in- 
duced however  the  deepest  solicitude  and  a  spirit  of 
fervent  pra5^er  among  christians.  Like  Israel,  at  the 
Red  Sea,  the}'  were  driven  to  cry  mightily  unto  God. 
And  the  fruit  of  all  this  was  soon  seen  in  extensive 
revivals  of  religion,  which  have  continued  to  charac- 
terize the  country  and  to  be  known,  as  American 
revivals,  throughout  the  christian  world.  Their  his- 
tor}'  \ye  have  not  time  now  to  trace  :  and  it  is  suffi- 
cient for  our  present  purpose  to  note  the  interesting 
fact,  that  just  when  God  in  his  gracious  providence 
was  introducing  this  new  era,  the  edifice  in  which 
we  now  worship  for  the  last  time,  was  erected.  It 
has  therefore  existed  through  a  period  more  distin- 
guished in  this  respect  than  any  other  of  equal  extent 
in  the  whole  history-  of  the  world. 

■4.  Lastly,  and  most  intimately  connected  with 
this  feature  of  the  period  we  have  just  considered, 
we  may  notice  that  the  time,  when  this  church  was 
built,  w^as  also  the  introduction  of  an  era  of  active 
christian  benevolence.  While  the  committee  of  this 
congregation  were  planning  with  anxious  solicitude 
this  then  expensive  edifice,  Carey,  Fuller,  and  others 
in  England  were  conferring,  in  the  face  of  ignorance, 


30 

prejudice,  bigotry  and  mammon,  about  the  formation 
of  one  of  the  earliest  of  those  benevolent  institutions 
which  have  distinguished  modern  christian  charity, 
and  now  cover  the  whole  face  of  Protestant  Christen- 
dom. Previous  to  that  time,  missionar}^  bible,  tract 
Sunday  school  and  other  kindred  institutions,  were 
comparativel}^  unknown  ;  the  aggressive  character  of 
Christianity  had  been  almost  entirely  undeveloped  ; 
the  church  seemed  to  have  sunk  into  the  profoundest 
slumber  in  regard  to  the  extent  of  her  great  commis- 
sion. In  the  year  1793,  commenced  that  severe 
struggle  in  the  British  Parliament,  in  which  the 
practical  wisdom  of  Grant  and  Fuller,  the  burning 
eloquence  of  Wilberforce,  and  the  indefatigable  per- 
severance of  Carey  and  others  contended  for  the  right 
to  seek  the  christianizing  of  India,  and  which  tri- 
umphed so  gloriousl}^  in  the  year  18 13.  Since  then 
these  enterprizes  have  multiplied  so  greatly,  that 
every  christian  country  and  every  christian  sect,  has 
its  various  organizations  in  active  operation  for  the 
conversion  of  the  world  to  Christ.  A  lively  christian 
interest  has  been  awakened — christian  liberalit}'  has 
been  developed — an  extensive  acquaintance  with 
heathen  nations  has  been  acquired — prejudices  against 
this  christian  work  have  been  removed — partition 
walls  have  been  broken  down — sealed  empires  have 


31 

been  opened  to  the  gospel — access  to  the  remotest 
tribes  has  been  gained — the  bible  has  been  translated 
into  numerous  languages — missionaries  of  the  cross 
have  been  sent  to  various  countries — and  facilities  for 
fulfilling  the  Saviour's  last  command,  such  as  had 
hardly  been  conceived  of  since  the  days  of  the 
Apostles,  have  been  improved. 

Such  are  some  of  the  features  of  the  era  that  was 
introduced  when  this  church  was  erected.  May  we 
not  see  in  them  cause  for  profound  gratitude  on  the 
part  of  this  congregation  ? 

II.  Let  us  then  turn  in  the  next  place  to  contem- 
plate the  human  instruments  with  which,  in  the 
providence  of  God,  the  church  has  been  favored  for 
meeting  the  emergencies  of  its  destined  mission 
during  this  period. 

They  may  be  viewed  in  connection  with  the  several 
pastorates  in  which  were  developed  successively,  in 
this  particular  congregation,  the  several  character- 
istics of  the  age  to  which  we  have  been  adverting. 

1.  The  first  was  in  connection  with  the  ministry 
of  Dr.  Allison.  When  he  came  to  this  church,  Bal- 
timore contained  not  more  than  thirty  houses.  From 
the  time  when  Mr.  Fleming's  farm  of  sixty  acres  was 
laid  out  by  legislative  grant  as  a  town,  till  the  adop- 


32 

tion  of  the  federal  constitution,  it  did  not  seem  to 
flourish;  and  that  notwithstanding  Braddock's  defeat, 
rendering  the  Indians  more  lawless,  had  driven  many 
of  the  scattered  population  of  the  interior  into  the 
towns  for  protection,  and  a  considerable  body  of 
French  neutrals  had  sought  refuge  here  from  Nova 
Scotia,  when  it  was  taken  by  the  British.  At  the 
commencement  of  the  revolution  it  was  still  a  village 
of  not  more  than  five  thousand  inhabitants.  And 
even  at  the  close  of  that  struggle,  notwithstanding  a 
spirit  of  considerable  enterprise,  it  contained  only 
about  eight  thousand.  When  Dr.  Allison  died,  it 
had  become  the  third  city  of  the  union  in  magnitude; 
and  this  church,  which  arose  from  five  or  six  families, 
one  of  the  most  flourishing  congregations  in  the  land. 
Of  this  gratifying  growth  Dr.  Allison  and  his 
respected  associates  were  permitted  to  be  the  hon- 
ored agents.  It  affords  me  great  pleasure,  after 
having  carefully  reviewed  their  public  spirited,  self- 
denying,  efficient  and  judicious  labors,  to  hold  them 
up  to  your  veneration  and  gratitudes  as  the  founders 
of  this  church — the  instruments  by  whom  it  was 
brought  to  its  highest  outward  prosperity.* 


*  The  members  of  the  Committee  during  this  period  were  Messrs.  John 
Stevenson,  John  Smith,  William  Lyon,  Wm.  Buchanan,  William  Smith, 
James  Sterret,  William  Spear,  Jonathan  Plowman,  Dr.  Alexander  Stenhouse, 


33 

The  character  of  the  men,  and  the  spirit  that  actu- 
ated them  may  be  seen  in  the  report  made  by  the 
committee  to  the  congregation,  on  becoming  settled 
in  this  building  in  which  they  give  a  detailed  history 
of  the  administration  of  its  secular  affairs,  during  the 
time  it  had  been  managed  by  them.  From  this  it 
appears  that,  during  this  period  of  a  little  more  than 
twenty-eight  years,  two  church  edifices,  besides  the 
original  log  building,  had  been  erected,  one  of  them 
had  been  enlarged,  a  parsonage  had  been  built,  the 
lots  for  these  buildings  and  one  for  a  burial  ground 
had  been  purchased,  the  annual  salaries  had  been 
collected  with  unusual  accuracy,  inferior  expenses 
had  been  defraj^ed  without  applying  to  the  congrega- 
tion or  to  the  public  fund,  and  the  temporalities  of 
the  congregation  brought  into  the  most  flourishing 
state.  For  this  they  disclaimed  any  personal  credit, 
ascribing  it  all  to  the  great  body  of  the  people.  And 
then,  after  stating  that  onl}'^  one  of  their  number 
had  remained  a  member  of  the  committee  from  first 
to  last,  they  add,  "  should  it  be  now  alleged  that  the 

John  Boyd,  Samuel  Purviaiice,  John  Little.  Samuel  Brown,  James  Callioun, 
Robert  Purviance,  William  Neill,  Hugh  Young,  John  Sterrot,  David  Stewart. 
Nathaniel  Smith,  Joseph  Donaldson,  Robert  Gilmor,  William  Patterson, 
Christopher  Johnson,  Stephen  Wilson,  John  Swan,  Col.  Samuel  Smith  and 
Dr.  Brown. 

*  This  was  Mr.   William  Smith,   who  served  on  the  committee  from   17G4 
to  1814. 


34 

individuals  of  our  body  have  acted  improperly,  and 
might  have  their  places  better  supplied;  should  it  be 
feared,  in  these  days  of  commendable  jealousj^  for  the 
rights  of  man,  that  the  institution  itself  is  defective 
and  ought  to  be  altered;  *  *  should  the  society,  for 
these  or  other  reasons,  desire  to  introduce  a  new 
system  and  to  employ  other  agents,  they  have  an 
unquestionable  authority.  As  members  of  the 
church,  a  connection  we  value  more  than  being  mem- 
bers of  the  committee,  we  declare  our  readiness  to 
consult,  advise  and  act  with  our  brethren  in  a  con- 
gregational capacity  on  whatever  plan  may  be  pro- 
posed for  accomplishing  the  great  design  for  which 
we  have  voluntarily  joined  ourselves  together  in  a 
christian  assembl}',  not  questioning  but  the  harmony, 
candor  and  mutual  forbearance  we  have  heretofore 
enjoyed  will  continue,  and  prove  no  less  honorable 
to  our  reputation  than  auspicious  to  our  affairs." 
These  were  pre-eminently  the  men  for  the  times. 
Nor  should  it  ever  be  forgotten,  that  all  that  we  have 
since  enjoyed  as  a  congregation,  we  owe  under  God 
to  their  noble,  self-sacrificing,  successful  labors. 
May  this  people  never  prove  recreant  to  their  princi- 
ples, nor  unworth}^  of  their  fame. 

Dr.  Allison  was  a  pastor  worthy  of  such  a  congre- 
gation and  committee.     Coming  here  in  early  j^outh. 


35 

with  distinguished  talents,  accurate  and  extensive 
culture,  a  firm  friend  of  learning  and  order,  zealous 
for  civil  and  religious  libert}',  but  eminentl}^  conserv- 
ative, he  acquired,  during  a  period  of  nearl}-  forty 
years,  a  reputation  and  influence  second  to  no  other 
in  the  community.  As  a  preacher,  he  was  rather 
didactic  and  argumentative  than  rhetorical.  His 
sermons  were  addressed  to  the  understanding  more 
than  to  the  passions.  Although  he  read  closely, 
and  his  manner  was  not  animated,  his  style  was  3'et 
so  chaste,  lucid  and  nervous,  that  his  discourses 
always  awakened  attention  and  interest.  It  was 
however  in  his  aptness  for  public  business  that  he 
stood  especially  pre-eminent.  From  the  origin  of 
the  Presb3^tery  of  Baltimore  he  was  a  leading  member 
of  that  body,  being  its  moderator  during  the  first 
seven  years,  and  taking  a  prominent  part  in  every 
important  measure.  In  the  higher  judicatories  of 
the  church  he  exerted  no  less  commanding  influence. 
Coming  upon  the  stage  with  the  most  distinguished 
lights  that  have  adorned  the  annals  of  our  church — 
the  Tenants,  Gillespie,  Bostwick,  Davies,  Blair,  Rog- 
ers, Ewing,  Witherspoon,  Nisbet  and  others — men  re- 
nowned for  learning,  piety  and  influence,  he  undoubt- 
edly, sa3^s  Dr.  Miller,  held  the  first  rank  of  American 
clergy.     For  the  perspicuity,  correctness,  sound  reas- 


36 

oning  and  masculine  eloquence  of  his  speeches  in 
ecclesiastical  assemblies,  he  was  long  admired  and 
had  scarcely  an  equal.  Dr.  Stanhope  Smith,  presi- 
dent of  Princeton  College,  pronounced  him  the  ablest 
statesman  in  our  General  Assembly.  And  the  gen- 
eral estimate  in  which  he  was  held  by  the  church  at 
large,  is  clearly  evinced  by  the  important  duties  that 
were  assigned  to  him.  When  after  the  revolution 
measures  were  taken  for  establishing  the  Presbyterian 
church  in  this  country  on  its  present  basis,  he  was 
made  a  member  of  almost  every  committee  appointed 
to  conduct  the  business,  viz.  that  to  arrange  the  sev- 
eral judicatories — that  to  revise  our  public  stan- 
dards— that  to  mature  a  system  of  discipline  and 
government — and  that  on  psalmody.  The  same 
talent  for  managing  affairs  that  he  displayed  in  the 
church,  was  also  manifested  in  his  relations  as  a 
public  spirited  citizen.  He  was  one  of  the  original 
founders  of  the  Baltimore  College  and  the  Baltimore 
Library,  and  united  in  the  earliest  efforts  here  made 
to  establish  schools.  Trained  too  in  revolutionary 
times,  he  was  an  ardent  friend  of  civil  and  religious 
liberty.  The  only  writings  that  he  ever  printed, 
were  a  funeral  discourse  on  Washington,  and  some 
able  newspaper  articles  published  over  the  signature, 
"Vindex,"  (which  were  subsequently  printed  in  a 


37 

pamphlet,)  against  what  he  regarded  as  an  attempt 
of  a  sister  denomination  to  be  recognized  as  having 
a  legal  relation  to  the  state.* 

Earh-  in  1800,  Dr.  Allison's  health  began  to  fail. 
He  became  much  depressed  in  spirits  ;  so  much  so  that 
he  was  induced  to  appl}'  to  Presbytery  for  permission 
to  resign  his  charge  and  demit  his  office.  To  this 
the  congregation  was  opposed,  and  urging  him  to 
suspend  his  labors  and  seek  a  restoration  of  his 
^health,  offered  to  secure  for  him  an  assistant.  The 
Presbytery  therefore  recommended  him  to  withdraw 
his  resignation.  But  although  his  health  was  tem- 
porarily recruited,  he  soon  relapsed  into  a  deeper 
depression,  and  died  August  21st,  1802. t 

In  the  previous  month  of  February,  Dr.  Inglis 
was  elected  as  assistant  pastor,   by  a  small  majority 


*  Governor  Paca  had  recommended  to  the  Lejjislature,  to  make  some 
provision  for  the  support  of  religion,  and  an  application  to  that  body  was 
regarded  by  Dr.  Allison,  as  an  attempt  to  have  the  Episcopal,  which  had 
been  the  established  church,  still  recognized  as  holding  a  special  relation  to 
the  state. 

t  The  committee  met  as  soon  as  the  melancholy  event  was  made  known, 
and  adopted  measures  suited  to  the  occasion.  It  was  arranged  that  he 
should  be  interred  in  the  Western  burial  ground,  at  the  expense  of  the  con- 
gregation, at  4  o'clock  on  the  next  afternoon,  which  was  the  Sabbath  ;  and 
the  clergy  of  the  city  were  invited  to  attend  as  pall  bearers.  The  churches 
generally  were  closed,  and  the  ministers  of  the  various  denominations  were 
present.  It  was  also  resolved  to  erect  a  suitable  monument  in  the  church  as 
a  memorial  of  the  veneration  and  esteem  in  which  this  its  first  pastor  was 
held.     Dr.  Inglis  preached  a  funeral  sermon  on  the  next  Sabbath. 


38 

over  Dr.   Glendy,  who  was  then  settled  in  or  near 
Staunton,  Va.* 

2.  The  second  period  in  the  history  of  the  church, 
which  was  principally  in  connection  with  the  pastor- 
ate of  Dr.  Inglis,  was  that  after  it  had  attained  its 
maturity  and  was  firmly  established  as  an  able  and 
influential  congregation.  It  was  a  period  of  great 
outward  prosperity.  We  have  traced  the  slow  and 
gradual  growth  of  the  cit}^  and  congregation,  through 
many  difficulties  and  discouragements,  to  the  time 
when  this  edifice  was  erected.  After  the  revolution, 
the  Federal  Constitution  being  adopted,  and  the 
national  debt  funded,  public  and  private  confidence 
was  restored,  and  commerce  revived.  Commercial 
houses  from  Holland,  Hamburg  and  Bremen  were 
soon  established  here,  and  rapidly  drew  nearly  all 
the  tobacco  trade  of  the  state,  which  had  been  pre- 

*  At  a  previous  election,  in  December,  1801,  Dr.  Archibald  Alexander,  sub- 
sequently professor  of  didactic  theology  in  the  Theological  Seminary  at 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  was  chosen.  He  had  been  on  a  tour  through  New  England, 
and  on  his  return  to  Virginia,  passed  a  Sabbath  in  Baltimore,  with  his  friend, 
Mr.  Priestly,  and  preached  in  the  pulpit.  It  being  understood  however  that 
a  considerable  minority  was  opposed  to  him,  under  the  impression  that  his 
views  on  the  subject  of  discipline  were  stricter  and  more  rigid  than  those 
to  which  they  had  been  accustomed,  he  declined. 

Dr.  Inglis  graduated  at  Columbia  College,  New  York,  and  entered  the 
office  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  as  a  student  of  law.  At  the  close  of  the  three 
years  term  of  study  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  But  in  the  course  of  a  year 
he  abandoned  that  profession,  and  commenced  the  study  of  theology,  under 
Dr.  Rodgers,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  in  1801. 


:30 

viously  carried  on,  to  a  great  extent,  by  wealthy 
planters  from  their  own  landings,  like  Elk  Ridge 
Landing.  Flour  too  was  so  largely  exported  to  the 
West  Indies,  that  Baltimore  became  one  of  the 
largest  flour  markets  in  the  world,  as  it  is  now  one 
of  the  most  important. 

The  location  was  peculiarly  favorable  to  com- 
merce, presenting  the  nearest  market  to  the  western 
country,  which  was  then  gradually  filling  up,  and 
concentrating  a  great  proportion  of  the  trade  of  the 
Chesapeake.  The  geological  features  of  the  coun- 
try around  these  head  waters  of  the  bay  were  found, 
moreover,  most  admirably  adapted  to  the  employ- 
ment of  water  power.  The  streams  running  into  the 
Chesapeake  at  this  point  are  numerous,  and  as  the 
country  gradually  rises  in  successive  ridges,  the 
waters  fall  rapidly  in  their  progress  to  the  bay.  So 
remarkably  is  this  the  case  in  this  neighborhood, 
that  several  of  the  principal  streams  were  denom- 
inated b}^  the  fx  ■  t  settlers  Falls;  as  Jones'  Falls, 
Gw^ynn's  Falls,  6  c.  It  has  been  asserted  that  there 
is  no  equal  space  of  ground  in  the  United  States  that 
has  more  natural  water  power,  united  with  so  many 
local  facilities,  as  the  circle  of  thirt\'  miles  radius 
about  Baltimore.  From  the  Potomac  to  the  Gulf  of 
Mexico  there  are   very  few   in   comparison  ;  and  this 


40 

is  true,  to  a  great  extent,  throughout  the  West.* 

In  connection  with  this  advantage  of  location,  we 
ma}'  notice  that  in  1793,  when  the  revolution  in  St. 
Domingo  took  place,  many  of  the  inhabitants  fled 
from  the  Island,  and  fifty-three  vessels  arrived  in 
Baltimore,  on  the  9th  of  July,  with  one  thousand 
white,  and  five  hundred  colored  inhabitants;  and  in 
the  next  three  months  nearly  as  many  more.  This 
proved  highly  advantageous,  not  only  by  the  acces- 
sion of  such  a  number  of  active,  industrious  people, 
but  by  opening  up  an  almost  exclusive  trade  with 
that  island  when  its  commerce  was  very  profitable. 
It  led  also  to  a  very  important  carrying  trade  with 
the  other  West  India  islands.  Europe  being  involved 
in  a  protracted  war,  this  whole  country,  freed  from 
entangling  alliances,  enjoyed  very  great  prosperity. 
The  southern  situation  of  Baltimore,  and  its  possess- 
ing an  abundance  of  the  staple  commodities  for  the 
West  India  market,  gave  it  uncommon  facilities  for 
this  trade.  Ship  building,  in  which  the  Baltimore 
artisans  had  become  peculiarly  adept — constructing 
a  class  of  fast  sailing  clipper  vessels — attained  great 
importance,  and  with  this  all  the  common  branches 

*  (jeneral  Harper  stated  that  a  semi-circle  of  twenty  miles  radius,  of  which 
Baltimore  is  the  centre,  contains  suflicient  water  power  to  employ  a  million  of 
looms. — N.  A.  Review,  1825  ;  from  which  some  of  these  statements  have  been 
taken. 


41 

of  business  flourished,  adding  very  much  to  the 
growth  and  wealth  of  the  city.  And  even  when, 
after  the  peace  of  Amiens,  in  1801,  the  commerce  of 
the  country  was  very  fluctuating — the  continental 
system  putting  a  severe  check  upon  neutral  trade — 
her  fast  sailing  vessels  afforded  peculiar  advantages 
to  this  port  for  a  traffic  w^hich,  from  its  very  difficulty, 
was  exceedingly  lucrative.  This  state  of  things 
continued,  with  the  exception  of  the  time  of  the 
blockade  of  the  Chesapeake,  till  near  the  year  181 8. 
During  this  period  the  city  grew  with  a  rapidity 
almost  unequalled.  Inhabitants  came  in  from  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  Ireland,  Germany,  Holland,  New  Eng- 
land, the  Middle  and  Southern  States  with  a  spirit  of 
enterprise,  which  gave  the  greatest  impulse  to  every 
branch  of  business.  The  population  increased  from 
1790  to  1800,  from  thirteen  to  thirty-six  thousand; 
and  in  181 8  to  sixty  thousand.  Real  estate  advanced, 
turnpikes  were  built,  banking  was  expanded,  and  a 
spirit  of  reckless  excess  was  engendered,  which 
resulted  in  one  of  those  wide  spread  revulsions, 
which  have,  on  various  occasions  since,  so  desolated 
the  country.  Previous  to  this  however  the  church 
had  become  thoroughly  consolidated  and  enjoyed 
most  remarkable  outward  prosperity.  The  colony, 
which  went  out   on    the   election   of  Dr.    Inglis   and, 


42 

erecting  the  Second  Church,  called  Dr.  Glendy,  was 
large  and  respectable.  But  the  vacancies  thus  made 
were  soon  filled,  and  the  congregation  continued 
eminently  prosperous.  In  1811  an  organ  was  intro- 
duced into  the  church,  which  at  first  gave  some  dis- 
satisfaction, but  it  soon  passed  away,  although  one 
or  two  valuable  families  left  the  church. 

The  old  parsonage  which  stood  on  Fayette  street, 
east  of  the  church,  was  removed  for  the  opening  of 
North  street,  which  was  previously  an  alley,  and  a 
new  one  was  erected  on  North  street,  in  the  rear  of 
the  church.  Dr.  Inglis  however  did  not  live  to 
occupy  it. 

During  this  season  of  remarkable  outward  pros- 
perity the  spiritual  interests  were  not  overlooked, 
although  the  church  enjoyed  no  such  revivals  as  dis- 
tinguished the  succeeding  pastorate.  "Measures  how- 
ever were  adopted  that  helped  much,  under  God,  to 
prepare  the  way  for  these  favored  seasons. 

In  1804  the  church  was  for  the  first  time  regularly 
organized,  according  to  the  provisions  of  the  Form 
of  Government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States,  by  the  election  of  Messrs.  Robert 
Purviance,  David  Stewart,  Christopher  Johnston, 
George    Salmon    and    Ebenezer    Finley,    as    ruling 


43 

elders.*  From  this  time  the  spiritual  interests  of 
the  church  seem  to  have  gradually  improved.  There 
were  indeed  many  causes  operating  powerfully  to 
interfere  with  the  progress  of  vital  piet}'.  Never 
was  the  tendency  to  infidelity  stronger  in  our  coun- 


*  In  1781  the  following  entry  is  found  in  the  Records  of  the  Committee: 
"  The  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  Society,  at  its  first  formation,  especially 
the  small  number  able  and  willing  to  discharge  public  trusts  therein,  obliged 
some  persons  to  fill  different  employments,  in  the  capacity  of  both  what 
are  called  elders  and  deacons  or  committee  men.  But  our  respectable  estab- 
lishment and  happy  increase  now  furnish  means  of  removing  this  inconven- 
ience. Be  it  therefore  remembered  that  the  following  gentlemen,  Dr.  Wil- 
liam Lyon,  John  Smith,  William  Buchanan,  and  James  Sterret,  who,  origi- 
nally acted  in  both  these  characters,  being  previously  chosen  by  the  congre- 
gation, agree  to  serve  under  the  former  (that  of  elders)  alone.  And  it  is 
agreed  that  persons  be  introduced  into  the  committee  after  notice  and  by 
election. 

In  1804  we  find  another  volume  of  records,  (that  of  the  session,)  opening  as 
follows:  "Be  it  known,  that  Messrs.  Robert  Purviance,  David  Stewart, 
Christopher  Johnston,  and  George  Salmon,  having  been  previously  elected 
to  the  office  of  the  Eldership  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Congregation  in  the 
City  of  Baltimore,  were,  on  the  first  day  of  April,  1804,  solemnly  ordained 
and  set  apart  to  said  office  according  to  the  provisions  of  Chapter  xii,  '  Form 
of  Government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church."  And  at  the  same  time,  Eben- 
ezer  Finley  (previously  an  elder  in  Pennsylvania^  was  also  elected."  Rec- 
ords of  Session. 

In  1802  the  subject  of  the  full  organization  of  the  churches  under  its  care 
had  been  introduced  into  Presbytery,  and  a  pastoral  letter  adopted  urging 
upon  the  churches  the  election  and  ordination  of  elders.  Previous  to  this 
but  few  of  the  churches  in  this  region  seem  to  have  had  regularly  ordained 
ruling  elders,  or  to  have  kept  any  sessional  lecords.  The  delegates  that  had 
been  sent  from  this  church  to  Presbytery  and  Synod,  were  simply  trustees, 
unordained  representatives  of  the  congregation  ;  nor  were  any  sessional 
records  kept  previous  to  1804.  ".About  this  time,"  says  Dr.  Muir  \u  his 
brief  account  of  the  Presbytery,  "we  have  at  last  fallen  into  a  degree  of 
order,  and  our  churches  are  organized  according  to  the  directions  of  our 
Form  of  Government.  None  of  late  have  been  ordained  by  us  who  have  not 
at  the  same  time  been  installed,  and  steps  have  been  taken  to  instruct  our 
people  in  forms  of  discipline  and  government,   as  practiced  by  our  church." 


44 

try,  than  when  Dr.  Inglis  entered  upon  his  ministry 
in  this  church.  The  public  morals  had  been  very 
much  unsettled  by  the  revolutionar}^  war;  French 
writings  had  become  very  popular;  and  infidelity 
was  considered  fashionable.  In  1799  the  General 
Assembly  uttered  its  testimony  against  the  prevailing 
coldness  and  irreligion  in  a  pastoral  letter.  Chris- 
tians were  constrained  to  renewed  exertions  for  the 
preservation  and  promotion  of  vital  religion.  The 
result  was  seen  in  extensive  revivals,  which  were 
extending  throughout  the  Presbj^terian  church  dur- 
ing the  whole  of  Dr.  Inglis'  ministry.  And 
although  this  congregation  was  not  then  visited  by 
an3^  season  of  special  awakening,  the  preparations 
for  such  a  blessing  may  be  clearly  traced. 

In  1809  we  find  the  first  account,  in  the  Presbyter- 
ial  minutes,  of  a  free  conversation  on  the  state  of 
religion.  The  subject  of  pastoral  visitation  and  the 
religious  instruction  of  the  young  began  to  engage 
more  serious  consideration.  A  growing  attention  to 
spiritual  religion  is  clearly  perceptible.  In  18 14 
Messrs.  James  Mosher,  Thomas  Finley,  David  Bois- 
seau  and  Dr.  Maxwell  McDowell  were  ordained 
elders.  The  session,  agreeably  to  a  recommendation 
of  Presbytery,  resolved  to  commence  a  Register  of 
Baptisms.     And  in  this  year,  for  the  first  time,  appli- 


45 

cants  for  admission  to  the  church  appeared  before 
the  session,  and  on  being  received  had  their  names 
recorded.  From  this  time  too  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  administered  four  times  a  year  instead  of  twice, 
as  had  been  the  case  previously.  The  Presbyterial 
report  of  the  state  of  religion  within  its  bounds 
states  that  public  worship  is  better  attended  in  all 
the  churches,  a  greater  sense  of  religion  prevails, 
family  worship  is  more  generally  practiced,  infidelity 
is  less  openly  avowed,  the  catechism  is  universally 
taught  and  meetings  for  social  prayer  have  been 
established.  We  also  find  the  following  minute  in 
our  sessional  records  :  "  The  session  having  frequent 
occasion  to  remark  the  auspicious  bearing  of  meetings 
for  social  prayer  upon  the  religious  state  of  Presby- 
terian, as  well  as  other  congregations,  deem  it  exped- 
ient to  attempt  the  institution  and  maintenance  of 
such  associations,  and  also  that  the  pastor  be  author- 
ized to  express  the  sense  of  the  session  on  this  and 
similar  means  of  quickening  the  people  in  religion." 
In  1815  a  weekly  lecture  was  instituted, being  conduct- 
ed by  the  pastor  on  every  Wednesday  evening,  in  the 
church,  there  being  then  no  lecture  or  session  room. 
About  the  same  time  Mrs.  Stephen  Williams,  then  a 
member  of  St.  Peter's  church,  having  during  a  visit 
to  Philadelphia  witnessed  the  happy   effects   of  Sab- 


46 

bath  Schools,  was  the  means  of  introducing  them 
into  Baltimore.  The  first  was  commenced  by  the 
ladies  of  St.  Peter's  church,  which  was  soon  followed 
by  one  under  the  care  of  the  ladies  of  this  church, 
which  was  held  for  some  time  in  a  room  over  the 
engine  house  in  McClellan's  alley,  and  with  it  was 
connected  a  weekly  meeting  for  social  prayer. 

In  December,  1817,  when  the  spiritual  prospects 
of  the  church  were  becoming  increasingly  promising, 
Dr.  Inglis  solicited  the  Presbytery  to  dissolve  his 
pastoral  relation  to  the  First  Presbyterian.  Church  in 
Baltimore,  for  reasons  which  he  assigned.  The 
Presbytery  resolved  that,  if  the  congregation  con- 
sented, the  request  should  be  granted,  but  if  they 
refused,  the  congregation  should  be  cited  to  appear 
by  commissioners  and  show  cause  why  they  would 
not  consent.  In  consequence  of  this  resolution.  Dr. 
Inglis  called  a  meeting  of  the  congregation,  Dec. 
12th,  1 81 7,  to  take  his  request  and  the  resolution  of 
Presbytery  into  consideration.  At  this  meeting  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  wait  upon  the  pastor,  to 
ascertain  his  reasons  for  the  request.  This  commit- 
tee reported,  as  the  result  of  an  interview,  that  Dr. 
Inglis  had  consented  to  continue  their  pastor,  if  the 
congregation  so  desired,  which  desire  was  at  once 
expressed  by  an  almost  unanimous  vote. 


47 

At  the  same  meeting  it  was  determined  to  elect  a 
new  bench  of  elders,  and  to  make  the  election  of 
these  officers  annual,  as  in  some  of  the  Reformed 
churches.  The  adoption  of  this  plan,  which,  al- 
though not  necessaril}^  a  departure  from  sound  Pres- 
byterianism,  is  nevertheless  contrary  to  the  constitu- 
tion of  our  branch  of  the  Presbyterian  body,  caused 
a  w^arm  discussion  in  Presbyter}-.  That  bod}'  passed 
over  the  irregularity,  but  the  Synod  centured  the 
Presb3'ter3'  for  so  doing.  And  the  congregation  never 
carried  out  the  resolution  to  elect  annually. 

Dr.  Inglis  died  suddenly  on  Sabbath  morning, 
August  15th,  1819.  He  was  one  of  the  most  distin- 
guished popular  preachers  of  his  day.  "He  was 
largely  gifted,"  says  Mr.  Jonathan  Meredith,  "with 
many  of  the  essential  elements  of  oratorical  power. 
His  voice  was  full,  clear,  and  capable  of  great  varie- 
ties of  modulation.  His  enunciation  was  deliberate 
and  distinct,  his  action  subdued  but  graceful,  always 
appropriate  and  seemingly  unstudied.  His  whole 
manner  was  eminently  dignified  and  impressive. 
He  was  accounted  a  sound  theologian,  a  good  classi- 
cal scholar,  and  familiar  with  the  best  English  liter- 
ature. "^  *  He  usually  preached  with  his  sermon 
before  him,  but  did  not  confine  himself  to  it,  the 
most  striking  and  eloquent  passages  being  evidently 


48 

extemporaneous."  His  style  was  exceedingly  con- 
cise, but  clear  and  elegant.  Dr.  Dwight  spoke  of 
him  to  his  class  in  rhetoric,  as  the  most  signal 
instance  of  precision  in  style  that  he  had  ever 
met.  He  possessed  in  a  pre-eminent  degree  the 
talent  of  so  managing  his  voice  and  action,  as  to  pro- 
duce the  most  profound  impressions  with  the  sim- 
plest sentence.  Those  who  were  accustomed  to 
hear  him  testify  that  no  adequate  conception  can  be 
formed  of  the  effect  of  his  preaching  from  his  pub- 
lished discourses.  Dr.  Sprague  represents  him  as  one 
of  the  most  eloquent  preachers  to  whom  he  had  ever 
listened.  Anecdotes  are  related  of  his  eloquence 
which  seem  almost  incredible.  In  private  intercourse 
he  was  cheerful,  affable,  and  eminently  agreeable. 
He  shone  in  conversation,  and  was  full  of  amusing 
anecdotes.  In  the  sick  room  he  was  extremelj^  ten- 
der and  faithful,  and  peculiarly  appropriate  and 
happy  in  devotional  exercises.  Such  indeed  was  his 
general  character,  such  his  power  of  attracting  and 
influencing  others,  that  the  devotion  of  his  people 
amounted  almost  to  idolatry.  The  application  to 
Presbytery  to  dissolve  his  pastoral  relation,  which 
cast  a  shade  over  the  last  days  of  his  ministry,  never 
interrupted  for  a  moment  the  affection  of  the  congre- 
gation. 


49 

The  temporal  affairs  of  the  church  during  Dr. 
Inglis'  ministry  were  eminentl}'  prosperous.  In 
addition  to  those  members  of  the  committee  who 
survived  Dr.  Allison,  Col.  Strieker,  Messrs.  Geo. 
Salmon,  James  McHenry,  Amos  Williams,  and  others 
who  will  come  under  subsequent  notice,  took  an 
active  part  in  their  management.  The  social  posi- 
tion, the  political  influence,  and  the  commercial 
standing  of  these  gentlemen  gave  to  the  congregation 
under  their  administration  the  greatest  weight  in  the 
community. 

3.  The  third  period  of  the  church,  which  was  dur- 
ing the  ministr}-  of  Dr.  Nevins,  may  be  character- 
ized as  that  of  gracious  revival. 

The  rapid  growth,  the  unexampled  prosperit}^  of 
Baltimore  during  the  period  we  have  just  reviewed, 
led,  as  has  often  been  the  case,  to  that  excessive 
banking  and  over-trading,  which  soon  involved  the 
community  in  one  of  those  great  commercial  revul- 
sions which  spread  devastation  and  distress  so  widely 
over  the  land.  This  happened  in  1818,  not  long 
before  the  death  of  Dr.  Inglis.  The  value  of  real 
estate  was  greatly  reduced,  and  the  aspect  of  the 
city  is  said  to  have  given  evident  marks  of  decline. 
This  no  doubt  had  its  influence  in  the  wise  overrul- 


50 

ing  of  divine  providence,  as  we  have  seen  a  similar 
state  of  things  recently,  in  impressing  the  minds  of 
men  with  a  sense  of  the  vanity  of  the  world,  and  the 
importance  of  eternal  interests,  and  thus  in  prepar- 
ing the  way  for  those  gracious  visitations,  that  dis- 
tinguished the  period  we  are  now  considering. 

Before  the  consequences  of  that  commercial  revul- 
sion had  entirely  passed  away,  Dr.  Nevins  was  elected 
the  third  pastor  of  this  congregation.*  During  the  first 
years  of  his  ministry  here  there  was  nothing  remark- 
able in  the  results  of  his  labors.     Possessing  a  bril- 

=^=  The  church  continued  vacant  for  about  one  year  after  Dr.  Inglis'  death. 
During  that  time  the  attention  of  the  congregation  was  directed  to  several 
promising  preachers,  who  had  just  entered  the  ministry.  Among  these  were 
the  Rev.  Sylvester  Larned,  Rev.  Matthew  Bruen  and  Rev.  William  Nevins. 
The  predilections  of  the  respective  friends  of  these  gentlemen  were  very 
strong,  and  the  first  election  lasted  two  days.  At  length  the  choice  fell  upon 
Mr.  Larned,  then  recently  settled  in  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Larned  was  highly 
gratified  with  the  call,  but  promptly  yielded  to  what  he  regarded  the  claims 
of  duty,  and  signified  his  refusal.  He  had  been  stationed  in  New  Orleans  by 
the  voice  of  the  church.  A  large  and  promising  congregation  had  been  gath- 
ered there  by  his  eloquence,  faithfulness  and  piety.  And  his  brethren  and 
fathers  in  the  ministry  felt,  that  his  abandoning  the  enterprize  at  that 
critical  juncture,  would  peril  its  success.  He,  therefore,  stood  firmly  to  his 
post  and  became  a  martyr  to  duty,  falling  a  victim  to  the  climate,  universally 
lamented  as  one  of  the  most  promising  and  eloquent  ministers  ever  raised  up 
in  the  Presbyterian  church.  On  the  second  election,  Mr.  Nevins  was  chosen 
pastor  of  the  congregation  by  a  large  majority,  and  became  the  instrument 
of  the  most  important  spiritual  blessing  to  the  church.  He  was  born  in 
Norwich,  Ct.,  October  17th,  1797.  At  an  early  age  he  applied  himself  to 
commercial  pursuits,  but  soon  abandoned  them  for  a  liberal  education,  and 
entered  Yale  College,  where  he  became  hopefully  converted.  On  leaving 
college  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  Princeton,  N.  J.,  and  after 
the  regular  course  of  study,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel  by  the  Asso- 
ciation of  New  London,  Ct.,  September,  1819.  He  labored  a  short  time  in 
Richmond,  Va.,  and  settled  in  Baltimore,  October,  1820. 


51 

liant  imagination,  a  sound  judgment,  a  refined  taste, 
warm  affections  and  an  ardent  temperament,  his 
pulpit  performances  attracted  general  admiration  and 
proved  highl}'  gratifying  to  an  intelligent  congrega- 
tion. In  his  social  jntercourse  there  was  a  frankness 
and  guilelessness,  a  read}-  sympathy  with  others, 
that  rapidl}^  endeared  him  to  all  classes  of  his  flock. 
A  somewhat  variable  temperament,  and  a  manner 
marked  by  great  simplicit}',  pla3^fulness  and  wit,  led 
some,  who  met  him  only  casually  at  this  time,  and 
became  subsequently  better  acquainted  with  him,  to 
suppose  that  his  religious  character  underwent  a  very 
important  change  after  the  first  few  3'ears  of  his  min- 
istry. And,  unquestionabl}^  his  settlement  in  life, 
increasing  years,  the  responsibilities  of  so  important 
a  charge,  and,  above  all,  divine  grace  gradually 
sobered  his  feelings  and  led  to  a  more  rapid  develop- 
ment of  his  religious  character.  But  those  who 
knew  him  most  intimate!}'  at  an  earlier  period,  had 
perceived  from  the  first,  evidence  of  the  same  views 
and  experiences  that  characterized  him  at  this  late 
period.  No  one,  says  Dr.  Sprague,  could  hear  him 
pray  in  the  seminary,  without  being  convinced  that 
his  utterances  were  from  a  heart  accustomed  alike  to 
self-communion  and  godly  sorrow. 

There  were  various  circumstances  which  tended  to 


52 

prepare  the  way  for  these  gracious  seasons  of  refresh- 
ing, which  rendered  this  the  most  important  period 
in  the  history  of  this  church.  The  weekly  lecture 
and  prayer  meeting,  which  seem  to  have  been  dis- 
continued about  the  time  of  Dr.  Inglis'  death.  Dr. 
Nevins  early  revived,  and  also  secured  the  formation 
of  more  private  meetings  for  special  prayer.  The 
present  lecture  room,  (although  at  first  only  half  of  its 
present  size,)  was  erected,  and  the  sabbath  school 
removed  to  it.  About  this  time,  too,  most  remark- 
able revivals  were  enjoyed  in  various  parts  of  the 
country.  In  the  District  of  Columbia,  which  was 
embraced  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Baltimore,  the  churches  seem  to  have  greatly  awak- 
ened. In  1 8 19  the  Third  Presbyterian  Church  in 
this  city  was  organized,  and  enjoyed  the  ministra- 
tions of  pastors,  who,  if  not  always  judicious  in  the 
measures  they  employed,  had  yet  conceived  a  strong 
desire  to  promote  a  true  revival  of  religion.  This 
general  subject  was  discussed  with  increasing  inter- 
est at  the  meetings  of  Presbytery.  In  the  spring  of 
1825  Dr.  John  Breckinridge  became  the  pastor  of  the 
Second  Presbyterian  Church  in  this  city.  He  after 
a  short  time  united  with  Dr.  Nevins  in  establishing 
a  Bible  Class,  embracing  a  large  number  of  young 
men   of   both    congregations,    most  of  whom  subse- 


53 

qiiently  became  subjects  of  the  revival  in  1827. 
Having  recently  reviewed  that  season  of  refreshing 
in  a  discourse  on  "  Revivals  in  Baltimore,"  I  take 
the  liberty  to  quote  one  or  two  paragraphs  : 

"  In  March,  1824,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Summerfield, 
whose  brief  ministerial  career  produced  so  happy  an 
impression  upon  Christians  of  all  evangelical  denom- 
inations in  this  country- ,  on  his  second  visit  to  the 
United  States,  was  appointed,  b}'  the  General  Confer- 
ence of  the  Methodist  Church,  Missionary  in  Balti- 
more, where  he  labored  with  the  greatest  acceptance 
during  the  winter  of  1 824-' 25,  and  produced  the  pro- 
foundest  sensation.  With  this  remarkable  man  Dr. 
Nevins  formed  a  ver}'  close  intimac}',  which  he  ever 
afterwards  spoke  of  as  one  of  the  most  precious 
blessings  of  his  life.  About  the  same  time  his  mind 
became  deeply  exercised  on  the  subject  of  baptizing 
the  children  of  parents  who  did  not  profess  saving 
faith  in  Christ.  After  careful  examination  and 
prayer,  he  became  persuaded  that  such  administra- 
tion of  the  ordinance  was  unmeaning  and  unauthor- 
ized. And  he  at  once  determined  to  decline  practic- 
ing any  longer  upon  what  has  been  styled  the  lax 
plan.  In  coming  to  this  conclusion,  he  clearly  fore- 
saw that  it  would  produce  no  little  agitation  in  such 
a    congregation  ;    and  he    even   apprehended    that  it 


might  lead  to  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  relation. 
But  having  made  up  his  mind,  he  fearlessly  announced 
his  intentions.  It  was  soon  apparent,  however,  that 
he  was  sustained  by  a  large  majority  of  the  congre- 
gation, although  some  few  left  the  church  on  this 
account.  This  is  worthy  of  more  particular  notice, 
not  only  because  it  is  natural  that  such  a  stand  would 
lead  those,  thus  deprived  of  what  they  had  been 
accustomed  to  regard  as  an  invaluable  right,  to  seri- 
ous reflection,  but  also  because  it  has  been  ascer- 
tained that  it  did  actually  produce  the  first  serious 
impressions  upon  some,  w^ho  afterwards  became  sub- 
jects of  the  revival.  From  this  time,  too,  one  who 
has  carefully  examined  Dr.  Nevins'  manuscripts, 
testifies  that  there  may  be  discovered  a  decided 
increase  of  solemnity,  directness,  pungency,  and 
unction  in  his  sermons.  And  no  one,  who  peruses 
the  touching  entries  in  his  diary,  can  fail  to  observe 
striking  evidences  of  this  change. 

"  Such  was  the  state  of  things  on  Sunday,  March 
7th,  1827.  There  was  no  expectation  beyond  what 
is  implied  in  an  ardent  longing  for  the  blessing. 
There  had  been  no  attempt  to  get  up  a  revival,  but  a 
simple  waiting  upon  God — upon  him  only.  That 
morning  Mr.  Nevins  preached  from  the  text,  '  Now 
is  the  accepted  time,  now  is   the  day   of  salvation.' 


55 

The  sermon,  which  is  still  preserved,  is  plain,  prac- 
tical and  pungent  ;  but  not  at  all  remarkable.  It  is 
not,  indeed,  equal  in  power  and  directness  to  many 
of  his  other  discourses.  He  was  not  himself  con- 
scious of  an\'thing  special  in  its  delivery.  He  did 
not  even  discover  anything  unusual  in  the  appear- 
ance of  the  congregation.  But  it  was  accompanied 
with  the  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  with  power. 
In  the  interval  between  the  morning  and  afternoon 
services,  the  older  and  more  experienced  teachers  in 
the  sabbath  school  were  surprised  to  find  a  number  of 
the  3^ounger  teachers  and  of  the  more  advanced 
scholars,  who  were  not  professors  of  religion,  in  the 
deepest  anxiety  respecting  their  salvation  ;  so  much 
so,  that  it  entirely  interrupted  the  regular  proceed- 
ings of  the  school.  At  the  same  time  several  mem- 
bers of  the  congregation  visited  Mr.  Nevins  at  his 
house,  in  a  similar  state  of  feeling.  The  next  day 
and  throughout  the  week,  wherever  he  went,  he 
found  the  deepest  tenderness  and  anxiety.  Whole 
families  were  impressed  by  they  knew  not  what.  He 
at  once  invited  all  such  to  meet  him  at  his  own.  resi- 
dence on  Monda}'  evenings.  And  in  the  course  of  a 
a  few^  weeks,  the  spirit  of  inquiry  had  so  spread,  that 
as  many  as  sevent}^  or  eighty  were  found  in  attend- 
ance upon  these  meetings  for  counsel  and  instruction; 
some  in  overwhelming  distress. 


56 

"  As  the  immediate  result  of  this  gracious  outpour- 
ing, more  than  two  hundred  persons  united  with  the 
two  churches.  Quite  a  number  became  most  useful — 
some  of  them  distinguished  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 
A  large  portion  of  the  young  men  have  subsequently 
become  officers  in  the  various  churches  now  existing. 
And  others  have  ever  since  been  among  the  most  ac- 
tive, zealous,  and  useful  of  our  church  members. 
Nor  was  the  influence  of  this  revival  limited  to  these 
more  palpable  and  recorded  manifestations.  It  in- 
fused fresh  life  into  the  churches,  animated  and  en- 
couraged the  ministers,  and  gave  a  new  impulse  to 
the  cause,  such  as  it  never  before  received.  Sunday 
Schools,  Prayer  Meetings,  and  Tract  Visitation,  were 
established  in  various  parts  of  the  city.  The  Fourth 
Presbyterian  Church  was  the  result  of  one  of  these 
enterprises.  Another  was  established  at  Crook's  fac- 
tory, to  which  Mr.  Musgrave  received  a  call  that 
resulted  in  his  useful  settlement  in  the  Third  Church. 
And  altogether  an  amount  of  good  was  accomplished, 
that  will  never  be  fully  estimated  this  side  of  eter- 
nity. Dr.  Nevins  testified  on  his  dying  bed,  six 
years  afterwards,  that  he  had  seen  no  reason  to  be 
ashamed  of  any  who  had  come  into  the  Church  at 
that  time.  From  that  period,  as  his  diary  shows,  his 
constant  anxiety  was  to  labor — agoyiize,  as  he  says — 


57 

for  a  renewal  of  the  work.  It  manifestly  produced 
in  him  a  deeper  sense  of  dependence  upon  the  Holy 
Spirit,  confidence  in  the  Divine  power  and  grace,  and 
desire  to  be  taught  and  guided  in  his  ministry  from 
above.  When  preaching  his  tenth  anniversary  ser- 
mon, he  mentioned  that  two  hundred  and  sixty  had 
joined  the  church  under  his  ministry,  chiefly,  as  he 
thought,  through  this  revival.  In  1831,  the  First 
Church  enjoyed  a  similar  season,  though  neither  so 
marked  nor  extensive." 

I  need  not  now  dwell  further  upon  the  character  of 
that  devoted  servant  of  Christ,  who  was  taken  away 
from  the  most  promising  prospects  of  usefulness  in 
the  very  dew  of  his  youth.  His  memory  is  so  fresh 
in  the  recollection  of  this  congregation  and  com- 
munit}',  even  after  nearh'  a  quarter  of  a  century, 
that  his  name  needs  only  to  be  mentioned,  to  awaken 
the  most  tender  and  grateful  associations. 

Early  in  1835  he  was  constrained  to  leave  his  charge, 
broken  in  health  and  spirits,  in  the  hope  that  a  sea 
voyage  and  a  temporary  cessation  from  his  arduous 
duties,  would  recruit  his  exhausted  strength. "^^    These 


*  In  1832  Dr.  Nevins  had  an  attack  of  bilious  fever,  which  laid  him  aside 
for  more  than  two  months,  but  which  he  felt  had  been  greatly  sanctified  to 
him.  In  1834  he  was  again  arrested  by  disease.  Incessant  labor  produced 
symptoms  of  bronchitis  ;  he  lost  his  voice,  and  was  disabled  during  the  whole 
summer.    Relaxation  and  travel  however  had  apparently  recruited  his  wasted 


58 

means  however  proved  entirely  ineffectual .  And  early 
in  the  autumn  of  that  year  he  returned  to  his  deso- 
lated home,  soon  to  find  a  resting  place  by  the  side 
of  his  beloved  companion  and  child,  who  had  recently 
preceded  him  to  the  grave.  On  the  14th  of  Septem- 
ber the  "  session  "  and  "  the  committee  "  were  sum- 
moned to  record  his  death  with  heartfelt  expressions 
of  respect  and  sorrow,  and  to  make  arraijgements  for 
his  last  obsequies. 

Mr.  William  Taylor  and  Col.  Mosher  were  the  only 
members  of  Session  when  Dr.  Nevins  was  installed. 
In  1829  Dr.  Maxwell  McDowell  was  re-elected*  to 
the  office,  in  connection  with  Mr.  George  Morris, 
previously  an  elder  in  one  of  the  Presbyterian 
churches  in  Philadelphia.     Mr.  Taylor  resigned  the 


strength,  when  the  sudden  death  of  an  almost  idolized  wife  by  cholera  again 
prostrated  him  in  sickness,  and  prepared  him  for  a  premature  grave.  His 
feelings  have  been  so  touchingly  portrayed  by  his  own  pen  in  his  "  Practical 
Thoughts"  and  "Diary,"  that  no  other  need  attempt  to  describe  them.  He 
employed  his  time  during  this  sickness  in  writing  the  articles  for  the  N.  Y. 
Observer  over  the  finals  M.  S.  and  several  tracts,  which  have  had  an  exten- 
sive circulation.  He  preached  but  once  after  this  time,  on  the  first  day  of  the 
year  1835.  Some  of  his  most  beautiful  and  effective  discourses  were  deliv- 
ered on  New  Year  days.  The  winter  and  spring  of  this  year  he  spent  in  the 
West  Indies,  without  however  the  benefit  anticipated  by  his  friends.  He  re- 
turned only  to  struggle  patiently  through  the  summer,  and  early  in  the  au- 
tumn breathed  out  his  soul  in  the  midst  of  a  most  affectiona'e  and  devoted 
people. 

*  Dr.  McDowell,  Messrs.  Mosher,  Finley,  and  Boisseau,  then  comprising  the 
whole  Session,  retired  in  1817.  In  1818  Messrs.  William  Taylor  and  Col. 
Mosher  were  elected. 


59 

next  year,  and  died  shorth'  after.  Col.  Mosher  con- 
tinued to  serve  as  the  oldest  member  of  Session  until 
about  1846,  when  at  an  advanced  age  he  felt  con- 
strained, on  account  of  increasing  infirmities,  to 
withdraw  from  the  active  duties  of  the  office.  In  1834 
Messrs.  David  Courtnay,  John  N.  Brown,  and  Wil- 
liam Iv.  Gill  were  added  to  the  Session.  Mr.  Gill 
alone  remains  wuth  us  at  this  time,  although  the  other 
two  serve  different  Presbyterian  churches  in  this 
city.  Those  last  elected  however  belong  more  prop- 
erly to  the  succeeding  period,  as  they  came  into 
office  only  a  short  time  before  Dr.  Nevins'  decease. 

Of  Mr.  Morris  and  Dr.  McDowell,  I  may  say  with 
that  filial  affection  and  respect  that  I  ever  entertained 
for  them,  that  few  more  valuable  ruling  elders  ever 
served  an}'  church.  When  I  first  came  here,  young 
and  inexperienced,  it  was  my  happiness  to  find  them 
the  oldest,  but  still  active,  members  of  the  session  of 
this  church.  Mr.  Morris,  owing  to  a  natural  reserve 
of  disposition  and  manner,  was  never  as  well  known 
by  the  congregation  generall}^  as  it  was  desirable 
that  he  should  have  been.  For  sound  judgment, 
practical  wisdom,  scrupulous  integrity,  unbending 
firmness  in  his  principles,  in  connection  with  the 
humblest  modesty,  the  most  ardent  philanthropy, 
and  the  most  devoted  piety,  I  have  never  known   his 


60 

superior  in  the  office.  He  had  an  accurate  and  com- 
prehensive acquaintance  with  our  system  of  doctrine 
and  polit}^  both  in  theory  and  practice,  and  ever 
proved  a  judicious  and  prudent  counsellor.  Dr. 
McDowell  was  a  worthy  associate.  Differing  in 
man}^  traits  of  character  and  manner,  the}^  were 
united  in  views  and  affection  ;  and  ever  exerted  the 
most  happy  influence  in  our  sessional  meetings.  It 
is  a  source  of  unfeigned  gratitude  to  me,  that  my 
early  ministry  was  exercised,  and  my  pastoral  char- 
acter formed,  in  connection  with  two  such  men. 

4.  This  brings  us  to  the  period  of  the  last  pastor- 
ate, which  has  been  more  particularly  characterised 
b}^  the  development  of  those  activities  of  the  con- 
gregation in  the  departments  of  church  extension 
and  general  christian  benevolence,  for  which  the 
previous  periods  had  so  remarkably  prepared  the 
way.  During  the  preceding  ministries  the  church 
had  attained  a  position  of  great  influence  in  the 
denomination  and  community  to  which  it  belongs. 
Since,  it  has  had  but  little  else  to  do  than  to  set  in 
order  and  employ  the  materials  of  usefulness,  with 
which  it  has  been  so  liberally  provided.  As  the 
business  of  acquiring  wealth  is  not  always  most  fav- 
orable to  its  expenditure,  (the  habits  of  mind  being 


61 

for  the  most  part  opposite,)  so  that  of  establishing 
and  consolidating  such  a  congregation  does  not 
always  allow  of  the  most  efficient  efforts  abroad. 
The  present  generation  however  became  the  heirs  of 
no  small  measure  of  material  and  spiritual  wealth, 
for  the  employment  of  which  the  providence  of  God 
soon  afforded  the  most  abundant  opportunities  and 
calls.  Hence  is  that  saying  true,  one  soweth,  an- 
other reapeth.  I^sent  3^ou,  said  the  Savior  to  his 
disciples,  to  reap  that  whereon  ye  bestowed  no  labor  : 
other  men  labored  and  ye  are  entered  into  their 
labors. 

When  the  present  pastor*  entered  upon  the  duties 
of  this  charge,  he  found  here  General  Samuel  Smith, 


*  In  December,  1835,  he  passed  through  Baltimore  on  his  way  to  New  Or- 
leans, in  the  service  of  our  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and  preached  in  the 
church  without  the  slightest  expectation  of  ever  seeing  the  place  again.  In 
the  February  following  the  Session,  having  received  a  request  from  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  the  congregation,  convened  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  go- 
ing into  an  election  of  pastor,  if  the  way  should  be  clear.  That  meeting  was 
adjourned  to  the  11th  of  April,  when  the  present  incumbent  was  chosen,  and 
having,  after  no  little  deliberation,  and  with  great  misgiving  accepted  the 
call,  was  installed  September  15th,  1836,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Miller  of  Princeton, 
preaching  the  sermon.  On  looking  back,  I  am  amazed  at  the  temerity  of  the 
step.  Young,  inexperienced,  and  with  no  capital,  men  of  far  higher  gifts 
might  have  shrunk  from  following  such  pastors  as  had  previously  served  the 
congregation — one  of  the  most  intelligent,  influential,  and  responsible  in  the 
denomination.  But  all  who  had  preceded  me  had  come  as  young  men  to  this 
as  their  first  charge,  and  (through  that  delicate  consideration  and  generous 
forbearance  which  so  often  distinguish  intelligent  and  refined  congregations) 
had  remained  through  their  entire  ministry— a  fact  nearly  unparalleled  in  our 
country.  And  I  cannot  but  hope  that,  notwithstanding  my  fear  and  trem- 
bling in  accepting  the  call,  I  was  guided  by  a  kind  and  wise  Providence,  who 


62 

Messrs.  Robert  Smith,  Robert  Gilnior,  James  Bu- 
chanan, Alexander  Fridge,  Alexander  McDonald, 
Judges  Nisbetand  Purviance,  Messrs.  George  Brown, 
James  Swan,  James  Cox,  James  Armstrong,  James 
Campbell,  and  Robert  Purviance,  who  were,  or  had 
been,  members  of  "  the  committee" — all  now  among 
the  dead.  Barel}^  to  mention  their  names  is  a  suffi- 
cient indication  of  the  character  and  position  of  the 
church  in  the  community,  as  they  w^re  distinguished 
in  the  highest  walks  of  civil,  political,  commercial 
and  social  life,  with  a  reputation  in  these  various 
departments  that  gave  lustre,  not  only  to  the  congre- 
gation, but  to  this  city  and  country.  The}'  were  the 
connecting  links  between  the  earliest  and  the  latest 
periods  of  the  congregation — its  feeble  infanc}'  and 
its  matured  manhood.  Most,  if  not  all  of  them,  had 
listened  to  everj^  pastor  the  church  has  had  during 
the  first  century  of  its  existence.  They  had  borne 
with  the  fathers  the  heat  and  burden  of  its  struggling 
into  existence.  They  had  ministered  b}^  their  wealth 
and  social  position  to  its  highest  outward  prosperity. 
They  had  witnessed  its  doubtful-  beginnings,  its  full- 


makes  use  of  earthen  vessels  that  the  excellency  of  the  power  may  be  of  God 
and  not  of  us.  By  divine  grace  I  have  continued  to  this  day,  having  been 
spared  in  the  office  for  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century— a  longer  period  than 
any  of  the  pastors  of  the  church,  with  the  exception  of  the  first,  and  being 
now  among  the  oldest  pastors  in  the  city. 


63 

est  strength,  and  its  widest  influence.  It  would 
afford  me  the  greatest  satisfaction  to  be  able  to  dwell 
more  minutely  upon  their  invaluable  services.  As 
however  this  is  impracticable  on  the  present  occasion, 
I  ma}'  be  permitted  to  single  out  two  or  three  as 
specimens,  not  indeed  to  claim  for  them  any  pre-emi- 
nence in  such  a  galaxy,  but  because  of  their  peculiar 
relations  to  the  history  of  the  church. 

General  Samuel  Smith  was  then  the  oldest  living 
"committee  man"  or  trustee  of  the  congregation, 
having  been  elected  in  1782,  before  the  erection  of 
the  edifice  we  are  just  leaving.  He  was  a  true  rep- 
resentative of  the  old  school  of  soldiers,  politicians, 
and  merchants.  Having  during  the  revolution  fought 
bravely  the  battles  of  his  country,  and,  during  the 
most  remarkable  period  of  the  rise  and  progress  of 
our  city,  attained  the  first  rank  among  her  merchant 
princes,  and  then  filled  the  highest  political  positions 
in  the  city,  state  and  general  governments,  he  brought 
to  the  committee  an  intelligence,  energy,  resolution 
and  executive  talent,  which,  while  they  rendered  him 
the  man  for  emergencies,  gave  him  the  most  com- 
manding influence  and  control. 

Mr.  Alexander  Fridge  was  elected  in  18 14,  in  the 
place  of  Mr.  William  Smith,  who  had  held  the  office 
since  the  organization  of  the  congregation  in    1761  — 


64 

a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years — connecting  the 
present  ministry  directly  by  a  single  link  with  the 
very  founders  of  the  church.  Mr.  Fridge  came  here 
in  time  to  be  identified  with  the  most  rapid  growth 
of  the  city  and  congregation.  lyiberally  educated  in 
a  university  of  the  Old  World,  (in  the  class  with  Sir 
James  Mcintosh  and  Robert  Hall,)  with  sound  judg- 
ment and  unsullied  integrity,  he  became  a  most  suc- 
cessful merchant.  I  found  him  just  recently  retired 
from  active  business.  A  kinder,  more  unselfish, 
philanthropic  heart  never  beat.  The  unfortunate 
poor,  the  forlorn  stranger,  the  mechanic  out  of  em- 
ployment, the  young  man  starting  in  life  without 
friends  or  patrons,  always  found  in  him  an  active, 
liberal,  kind  friend,  counsellor,  and  helper.  It  was 
however  in  relation  to  the  benevolent  operations  of 
the  church,  that  his  influence  at  that  particular  time 
was  most  important.  He  always  manifested  the 
warmest  and  most  efficient  interest  in  every  secular 
and  religious  charity,  and  never  held  back  from  any 
good  work.  His  character,  position,  and  influence 
rendered  one  having  such  views  and  feelings  a  most 
important  instrument  in  forming  and  establishing 
that  benevolent  character,  for  which  the  congrega- 
tion has  been  somewhat  distinguished. 

One  other  name  must  be  mentioned,  and  it  is  with 


a  tenderness  of  regret,  in  which  all  who  hear  me  will 
sympathise,  as  under  a  recent  affliction.  To  Mr. 
George  Brown  this  congregation  owes,  under  God, 
more  perhaps  than  to  any  other  person  for  its  present 
position  in  this  community.  With  his  name  its  rep- 
utation, influence,  and  usefulness  are  most  intimate- 
ly identified.  Elected  a  member  of  "the  committee" 
in  1825,  he  served  the  congregation  in  this  capacit}^ 
with  an  assiduity  and  faithfulness  second  to  no  other, 
for  nearly  thirt3'-five  years.  During  this  last  period 
of  the  histor}-  of  the  church  now  under  review,  he 
withdrew  gradually  from  the  pressure  of  active  busi- 
ness, and  gave  himself  increasingly  to  the  promotion 
of  those  various  benevolent  enterprises  demanded  by 
our  age,  tillhe  came  to  be  almost  universally  looked 
to  in  all  such  undertakings.  He  not  only  contribu- 
ted liberally  of  his  large  wealth,  but  also  b}^  his  coun- 
sels and  active  services.  The  contributions  of  this 
church  to  our  Boards  of  Missions,  Education,  «S:c.,  as 
well  as  to  the  other  benevolent  objects  of  the  da}^  were 
largely  made  up  of  his  gifts.  And  in  the  work  of  ex- 
tending the  church  in  this  city  and  vicinity,  as  well 
as  in  more  remote  parts  of  our  country,  to  no  other 
person  have  we  been  more  indebted.  The  new  church 
edifice  especially  will  be  always  identified  with  his 
name.     Onlv  those  however  who  were  associated  with 


66 

him  in  carr34ng  it  on,  will  ever  know  how  much  it 
owes  under  God  to  his  wisdom  and  prudence,  his  un- 
tiring vigilance,  his  important  encouragement  and 
timely  assistance.  Present  circumstances  forbid  me 
to  say  more,  less  could  not  be  said  in  faithfulness  to 
this  review. 

Such  are  specimens  of  the  men,  who  composed  and 
ofave  character  to  "the  committee"  at  the  commence- 
ment  of  the  present  pastorate.  General  Smith  was 
the  venerable  representative  of  the  old  era  ;  Mr. 
Fridge  of  the  transition  period  ;  and  Mr.  Brown  of 
that  in  which  we  are  now  living.  Each  had  its  spe- 
cial characteristics  and  mission,  not  exclusively,  but 
predominantly.  And  each  in  succession  constituted 
the  preparation  for  what  was  to  come  after. 

The  first  duty  to  which  the  church  seemed  espe- 
cially called  in  this  last  period,  after  having  become 
so  firmly  established,  so  greatly  prospered  in  outward 
respects,  and  so  graciously  revived  as  to  its  spiritual 
life,  was  its  own  enlargement  and  extension  in  this 
communit}"  and  vicinit}',  and  the  further  development 
of  its  practical  benevolence  through  the  various 
agencies  for  advancing  the  Redeemer's  kingdom  that 
distinguish  our  day.  Not,  b}^  any  means,  that  it  had 
heretofore  ignored  these  duties.  The  obligation  was 
recognized   from   the    beginning.     Dr.    Allison,    the 


G7 

first  pastor,  preached  in  the  country  one-fourth  of  his 
time  for  some  years  ;  and  relinquished  that  service 
only  to  meet  the  growing  wants  in  old  town,  where 
he  subsequently  held  frequent  services,  before  there 
was  any  Presbyterian  Church  there.  When  the 
election  of  Dr.  Inglis,  as  the  assistant  and  successor 
of  Dr.  Allison,  gave  rise  to  some  dissatisfaction  on 
the  part  of  Dr.  Glendy's  friends,  the  going  out  of 
that  large  and  influential  minority,  to  form  the  Sec- 
ond Church,  was  greatly  facilitated  by  the  previous 
labors  of  Dr.  Allison  in  that  part  of  the  city.  And 
as  that  was  the  period  of  Baltimore's  most  rapid 
growth,  both  churches  were  soon  most  respectablv 
filled.  An  enterprise  partaking  more  entirely  of  a 
church  extension,  and  even  missionary  character, 
was  some  years  after  attempted  in  the  western  part 
of  the  city.  This,  (the  Third  Church,^  in  Eutaw 
street,)  was  however  so  feebly  undertaken  and  so 
imprudently  managed  in  its  earlier  years,  that 
although  begun  in  1819,  it  amounted  to  very  little 
till  after  Dr.  Musgrave  took  charge  of  it  in  1830. 
About  the  year  1831  Mr.  Alexander  Fridge,  Mr. 
James  Campbell  and  others  made  an  effort  to  form  a 
new  congregation  and  called   the  Rev.  John   Harris, 


*See   a   brief  account   of  this   church   in   the   discourse   on    "Revivals  in 
Baltimore,"  before  referred  to. 


68 

then  a  young  minister,  of  very  distinguished  talents, 
eloquence  and  popularity,  as  a  preacher.  He  had 
been  raised  in  the  congregation,  and  was  recently 
from  the  seminary.  The  First  Baptist  Church,  in 
Sharp  street,  then  heavily  in  debt,  was  about  to  be 
sold,  and  these  gentlemen  proposed  to  purchase  it. 
But  before  the  arrangement  was  completed,  the 
friends  of  the  Baptist  church  relieved  it  from  the 
embarrassments  on  account  of  which  it  was  to  have 
been  sold,  and  Mr.  Harris  having  accepted  an  invita- 
tion to  New  Orleans,  the  project  was  abandoned.  It 
seems  that  some  cf  the  congregation  thought  that 
the  church  was  not  prepared  to  send  off  such  a  colony. 
Dr.  Musgrave  had  recently  undertaken  to  resuscitate 
the  Third  Church,  which  it  was  supposed  would 
require  all  the  aid  that  could  be  afforded  ;  especially 
as  many  of  the  most  active  members  had  but  recently 
come  into  the  church  in  the  late  revivals,  and  needed 
to  be  kept  together  for  some  time. 

In  a  year  or  two  after  this,  it  was  determined  to 
erect  a  Sabbath  School  in  what  was  then  the  extreme 
western  part  of  Baltimore.  In  1833,  Messrs.  Alex- 
ander Brown,  George  Brown,  and  Alexander  Fridge 
gave  the  lots  on  which  the  Fourth  Church  now 
stands.  It  was  proposed  to  erect  a  small  building  for 
a  Sabbath  School   on   the  rear  of  the  lot,    with    the 


69 

intention  of  erecting  a  church  edifice  on  the  front  at 
some  subsequent  day.  The  enterprise  however  was 
in  some  waj^  mismanaged.  Dr.  Nevins,  having  been 
taken  sick,  could  not  give  to  it  his  personal  over- 
sight, and  those  to  whom  it  had  been  entrusted  in 
his  absence  from  the  city,  commenced  a  far  more 
expensive  building  than  had  been  contemplated,  and 
the  funds,  which  had  been  collected  for  the  purpose, 
were  exhausted  before  the  walls  were  up.  Messrs. 
Alexander  and  George  Brown  had  to  advance  about 
two  thousand  dollars  ;  and  a  ground  rent  of  a  thous- 
and dollars  had  also  to  be  created,  before  the  roof 
could  be  put  on  and  the  floors  laid.  It  remained  for 
some  3^ears  in  this  unfinished  condition.  In  the 
meantime  the  Rev.  S.  Guiteau  gathered  a  small  con- 
gregation and  promising  Sabbath  School.  But  some 
months  after  he  became  persuaded  that  in  the  unfin- 
ished state  of  the  building  there  w^as  very  little  pros- 
pect of  forming  a  good  church,  and  he  relinquished 
the  enterprise. 

Such  was  the  state  of  our  churches  in  Baltimore  at 
the  commencement  of  the  period  now  under  review. 
About  this  time  (1837)  the  Presbyterian  denomina- 
tion, after  a  protracted  controversy  between  what 
were  styled  the  Old  and  New  Schools,  was  divided 
into   two  bodies.     And    when    the    attention    of  the 


70 

churches  was  diverted  from  the  strife  with  which 
they  had  been  agitated  for  ten  or  more  years,  and 
which  terminated  in  this  disruption,  they  began  to 
engage  in  more  agreeable,  if  not  more  appropriate 
work.  A  spirit  of  church  extension  was  waked  up 
throughout  the  entire  Presbytery.  Committees  were 
appointed  to  visit  various  portions  of  the  Presbyter- 
ial  bounds,  for  the  purpose  of  strengthening  feeble 
churches,  organizing  congregations  in  destitute 
places,  and  seeking  in  other  ways  the  promotion  of 
religion.  In  a  few  3^ears,  old  and  extinct  churches 
had  been  resuscitated,  new  ones  organized,  and 
houses  of  worship  erected  in  fifteen  or  twenty  differ- 
ent places  within  the  territorial  limits  of  the  Presb}^- 
tery.  In  this  useful  work,  this  congregation  was 
permitted  to  take  an  important  part. 

It  was  soon  felt  however  that  the  most  strenuous 
exertions  were  necessary,  to  keep  pace  with  the 
rapid  increase  of  population  in  the  city  itself.  In 
1837  the  Rev.  George  D.  Purviance  took  charge  of 
the  Fourth  Church,  which  had  remained  in  an 
entirely  unfinished  state.  Through  the  influence  of 
his  personal  friends  in  this  congregation,  it  was  com- 
pleted and  furnished  in  a  neat  and  tasteful  manner, 
at  an  expense  of  between  one  and  two  thousand  dol- 
lars.    A    congregation  was    gathered,    to    which    he 


71 

ministered  gratuitously  with  great  kindness  and 
assiduity,  until  the  failure  of  his  health  compelled 
him  to  desist  from  preaching.  As  that  congregation 
had  never  been  incorporated,  the  property  continued 
in  "  the  committee"  of  this  church.  On  their  pur- 
chasing out  the  ground  rent,  Mr.  Brown  very  gener- 
ously and  unsolicited  relinquished  his  claim,  amount- 
ing to  about  twenty-seven  hundred  dollars.  Within 
the  last  few  years  this  Fourth  Church  has  been  again 
greath'  revived  under  the  efficient  ministr}'  of  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Lefevre. 

In  the  autumn  of  1840,  Messrs.  John  Rodgers, 
David  Stewart,  and  John  Falconer  were  elected 
elders  :  and  Messrs.  Henry  C.  Turnbull,  John  Has- 
kell, Moses  Hyde,  and  Lancaster  Ould,  deacons. 
Early  in  the  next  year  they  were  ordained  ;  and  in 
the  sessional  conferences,  in  which  the  deacons  took 
part,  a  new  impulse  was  given  to  the  activities  of 
the  church.  The  subject  of  colonizing  formed  a 
prominent  topic  of  discussion.  And  it  was  soon 
determined  to  make  an  effort  to  build  a  new  church 
somewhere  near  the  Cathedral. 

Before  however  an}-  plans  were  matured,  it  was 
understood  that  the  Second  Church  also  contemplated 
colonizing.  Apprehending  that  the  attempt  to  carry 
on    two  such   enterprises   at   the   same    time    would 


72 

endanger  the  success  of  both,  a  proposition  was 
made  to  unite  on  one  at  a  time  ;  and  as  the  enterprise 
in  old  town  was  the  smallest,  and  therefore  most 
easily  managed,  it  was  deemed  best  to  commence  with 
that — especially  as  the  population  in  that  part  of  the 
city  was  large  and  increasing,  and  we  had  but  one 
Presbyterian  church  on  the  east  side  of  the  Falls. 
Accordingly,  in  November,  1842,  a  meeting  of  the 
pastors,  elders,  and  deacons  of  the  First  and  Second 
Presbyterian  Churches  was  convened  in  our  Parson- 
age, on  North  street  ;  and  after  mutual  conference, 
the  measure  was  determined  upon,  a  subscription 
was  opened,  committees  were  appointed,  and  all  the 
requisite  preliminar)^  steps  taken  for  erecting  the 
Aisquith  Street  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  com- 
pleted in  1844.'''  And  although  it  had  for  a  few  3^ears 
to  struggle  with  some  difficulties,  it  is  now  in  a 
most  flourishing  condition,  and  accomplishing  a  most 
important  work.  The  colony  was  principally  from 
the  Second  Church  ;  but,  one  of  the  elders,  one  of 
the  deacons,  and  some  twenty  or  thirty  members  of 
this  church,  formed  a  ver}'  important  part  of  that 
interesting  enterprise. 


*  Subsequently  this  congregation  united  in  a  successful  effort  to  purchase 
a  most  desirable  parsonage  for  that  church,  and  also  aided  in  building  a  new 
lecture  room  for  the  congregation  in  the  rear  of  the  church. 


73 

Before  however  that  church  was  completed,  some 
few  members  of  this  congregation  began  to  consult 
about  erecting  what  afterwards  became  the  Franklin 
Street  Church.  The  improvements  in  that  part  of 
the  city  were  going  on  very  rapidly.  At  first,  Mr. 
William  F.  Murdoch,  Dr.  George  Gibson,  and  Mr. 
C.  A.  Schaeffer,  were  the  onl}^  ones  who  took  an 
active  part  in  the  enterprise.  These  gentlemen  met 
from  time  to  time  in  the  old  parsonage,  to  confer 
upon  the  subject.  One  evening  the}^  were  joined  by 
Mr.  Robert  Campbell,  when  having  learned  that  the 
lot  on  which  that  church  now  stands,  was  offered  for 
sale  by  Mr.  Robert  Gilmor,  although  onl}^  about  ten 
or  twelve  thousand  dollars  had  been  collected  for  the 
purpose,  it  was  determined  to  accept  the  offer.  Some 
objections  were  at  first  made  to  this  by  persons,  who 
having  selected  the  lot  for  another  church,  had  sub- 
sequentl}'  relinquished  it,  but  Mr.  Gilmor  disregarded 
them,  and  adhered  to  his  agreement.  After  the  pur-, 
chase  of  the  lot,  Messrs.  Joseph  Taylor,  Francis 
Foreman,  James  George,  William  Beatty,  John  Big- 
ham,  Samuel  Mactier,  and  Alexander  Brown,  were 
added  to  the  committee.  Plans  were  obtained  from 
Carey  Long,  Esq.,  and  the  building  was  commenced, 
and  after  two  years  brought  to  a  completion  in  1846. 
Although  the  cost  was  somewhat  greater  than   had 


74 

been  expected,  yet  the  location  was  found  to  be  most 
eligible,  and  on  the  church  being  open  for  divine 
service,  a  large  sale  of  pews  was  made  and  a  numer- 
ous and  influential  congregation  gathered.  A  colony, 
consisting  of  two  elders,  two  deacons,  seventy 
church  members,  and  the  families  connected  with 
them,  went  out  from  this  congregation  to  form  that 
church.  Seldom  has  a  more  promising  colony  gone 
forth.  It  was  composed,  not  of  the  aged,  the  weak, 
the  lame,  the  halt,  but,  as  all  genuine  sacrifices 
should  be,  of  the  firstlings  of  the  flock,  of  the  very 
flower  of  the  congregation.  They  went,  not  because 
of  any  dissatisfaction  with  the  old  church,  (some  of 
the  most  efficient  members  of  the  building  committee, 
as  my  venerable  friend  Joseph  Taylor  and  others 
expected  to  remain  behind,)  but  gave  their  time, 
money,  and  labors  to  the  enterprise,  with  a  simple 
desire  to  extend  Presbyterianism  in  our  city. 

It  was  however  a  disruption  of  very  tender  ties, 
and  much  more  painful  than  those  who  have  not  gone 
through  a  similar  operation  would  be  likely  to  sup- 
pose. Indeed,  when  it  was  realized  how  large  and 
valuable  the  colony  was,  we  were  not  unfrequently 
sympathized  with  and  even  pitied,  as  if  the  glory 
had  departed  from  the  old  First  Church  ;  and  I 
acknowledge  I  sometimetimes  felt  that,   considering 


75 

the  weakness  of  poor  human  nature,  those  who  had 
promoted  the  enterprise,  against  all  private  interests 
and  feelings,  for  the  general  good,  had  behaved  with 
considerable  magnanimity.  And  I  have  reason  to 
know  that  few  took  greater  satisfaction  in  the  pros- 
perity of  the  new  enterprise.  The}^  would  not  have 
changed  an^'thing,  they  would  not,  if  they  could, 
have  recalled  a  single  member,  however  sad  it  was  to 
part  with  valued  helpers.  And  we  may  be  permitted 
to  testify,  as  the  result  of  this  and  other  similar 
movements,  that  God  may  be  safely  trusted  to  take 
care  of  the  interests  of  those,  who  with  generous 
self-sacrifice  engage  in  his  service  and  seek  to  pro- 
mote his  cause.  This  church  is  a  standing  monu- 
ment and  proof,  that  public  spirit  is  not  only  the 
diity  of  individuals  and  congregations,  but  their 
wisest  policy,  under  God's  government. 

After  the  colon}'  had  gone  out  to  form  the  Franklin 
Street  Church,'^'  this  congregation  resolved  to  remodel 
their  own  church  edifice  ;  removing  the  pulpit  to  the 
opposite  end,  and  turning  round  the  pews.  The 
floor,  which  used  to  be  of  brick,  and  which  had  to 
me  when  I  first  came  here  an  appearance  of  the  most 

*  While  that  enterprise  was  goiiiK  on,  this  congreKation  was  called  upon 
to  assist  the  Second  Church,  from  which  some  of  the  Franklin  Street  Church 
had  come,  in  erecting  the  Broadway  Church.  This  being  a  smaller  under- 
taking was  completed  first. 


76 

primitive  simplicity,  so  much  so  that  I  gave  the  com- 
mittee no  rest  till  they  consented  to  hide  it  by  a  car- 
pet, was  removed  and  a  new  floor  of  wood,  raised 
some  eighteen  inches  on  sleepers,  was  substituted. 
The  four  wood  stoves  that  Mr.  John  Spence  the 
sexton  used  always  to  stir  up  so  vigorously  before 
sermon,  were  removed,  together  with  their  unsightly 
pipes,  and  a  furnace  was  placed  in  the  cellar.  A  new 
and  valuable  organ  was  procured,  principally  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  ladies.  Mr.  Spence's 
green  arm  chair  was  no  more  to  be  seen.  That  fea- 
ture of  the  old  regime  I  greatl}^  missed.  When  I 
first  came  here,  a  young  man,  the  sexton  in  that  arm 
chair,  with  his  hymn  book  and  rattan,  directly  in 
front  of  the  pulpit,  inspired  me  with  an  awful  rever- 
ence. I  am  not  sure  that  I  did  not  sometimes  look 
around,  when  I  made  an}^  slip,  to  see  if  he  was  not 
after  me.  These  changes  gave  a  new  spring  to  the 
congregation.  While  the  young  colonies  prospered, 
our  own  church  gradually  resumed  its  wonted 
appearance.  And  although  in  a  part  of  the  cit}^  that 
was  being  rapidly  occupied  b}"  places  of  business  in 
the  stead  of  dwellings,  we  had  in  three  years  not 
only  paid  for  our  improvements,  amounting  to  ten 
thousand  dollars,  paid  off  a  long  standing  debt  of 
five   thousand,    but   our  income,    according   to    the 


report  of  the  treasurer,  was  greater  than  it   had  ever 
been  before.     So  much  for  colonizing. 

At  this  time,  Mr.  George  Morris  and  Dr.  Maxwell 
McDowell  having  deceased,  and  Mr.  John  Falconer 
and  Dr.  David  Stewart  having  gone  with  the  Frank- 
lin street  colony,  Mr.  William  W.  Spence  and  Mr. 
William  B.  Canfield  were  elected  elders.  The  next 
measure  to  which  attention  was  turned,  was  the  pur- 
chase of  a  ver}^  neat  and  substantial  church,  (^recentl}^ 
erected  by  a  Baptist  congregation,  in  the  most  desir- 
able part  of  the  cit}^)  for  our  colored  people — as 
handsome  a  structure,  I  venture  to  assert,  as  is  occu- 
pied by  an}'  colored  congregation  in  the  land  ;  fres- 
coed after  the  Egyptian  order,  in  the  highest  style  of 
art,  and  furnished  with  damask  cushions  and  every 
comfort.  In  this  enterprise  we  had  the  co-operation 
of  some  of  the  other  churches.  That  congregation, 
after  some  hard  struggles,  is  now  in  a  most  flourish- 
ing condition,  under  a  talented,  educated  colored 
preacher,  and  with  a  most  efficient  Sabbath  School, 
in  which  a  number  of  our  church  members  are 
engaged  as  teachers.* 


*  We  have  recently  undertaken  to  pay  off  a  ground  rent  of  twelve  hundred 
dollars  on  that  church,  and  to  purchase  for  it  a  suitable  parsonage,  which 
have  been  nearly  effected.  In  few  measures  do  I  more  rejoice  than  in  this 
discharge  of  a  most  important  obligation  to  this  dependent  class  of  our 
population. 


78 

In  the  autumn  of  1850,  the  need  of  a  church  in 
the  western  part  of  our  cit}^  was  beginning  to  be 
deeply  felt.  And  when  the  friends  of  the  movement 
w^ere  looking  for  a  suitable  lot,  it  w^as  suggested  that 
a  church  might  be  erected  on  the  grave  yard  of  this 
congregation,  on  the  corner  of  Greene  and  Fayette 
streets,  without  interfering  with  the  sacred  pur- 
poses to  which  that  hallowed  spot  had  been  con- 
secrated, and  so  as  to  prevent  the  ground  from  ever 
being  diverted  to  other  uses.  This  was  felt  to  be 
the  more  desirable,  as  the  remains  of  the  founders  of 
Presbyterianism  in  this  city,  of  all  the  previous  pas- 
tors, and  of  many  of  the  most  valuable  members  of 
this  congregation  there  repose.  Accordingly  Messrs. 
Joseph  Taylor,  Alexander  Murdoch,  Archibald  Stir- 
ling, Dan.  Holt,  William  W.  Spence,  William  B. 
Canfield,  and  the  pastor  of  this  church,  with  Messrs. 
M.  B.  Clarke,  John  Falconer,  E.  H.  Perkins,  and 
John  Bigham,  of  the  Franklin  Street  Church,  and 
Mr.  A.  Fenton,  associated  themselves  together  for 
this  purpose.  The  ground  was  broken  July,  1851, 
and  the  building  completed  in  one  year,  being  opened 
for  divine  service  July  4th,  1852.*     This  church  has 


*  A  more  particular  account  of  this  enterprise  is  given  in  the  discourse 
delivered  at  the  dedication  of  the  church,  and  wliich  was  published  soon 
after. 


79 

proved  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  useful  in  our 
body.  Under  its  two  most  able  and  accomplished 
pastors  it  has  enjoyed  a  degree  of  prosperity  second 
to  no  other  in  our  city  ;  and  now  constitutes  a  most 
important  element  of  our  denominational  strength 
here. 

The  success  of  these  various  undertakings  greatly 
encouraged  our  people  in  this  good  work  of  church 
extension.  The  teachers  of  our  Sabbath  School  hav- 
ing collected  a  large  number  of  scholars  from  Federal 
Hill,  found  that  to  be  a  most  destitute  part  of  our 
city.  This  led  to  their  securing,  through  the  Ladies' 
Missionary  Sewing  Society,  the  services  of  the  Rev. 
Mr.  Kaufman,  just  from  the  seminary,  who  soon  gath- 
ered there  one  of  the  largest  Sabbath  Schools  in  our 
city,  and  the  nucleus  of  a  congregation.  Just  how- 
ever as  they  were  preparing  to  undertake  the  erection 
of  a  church  edifice,  it  was  urged  that  there  was  in 
the  north-western  part  of  the  town  a  large  number  of 
Irish  Presbyterians,  who  attended  no  church,  and 
would  be  soon  lost  to  us  if  some  effort  was  not  made 
in  their  behalf.  Accordingly  a  room  was  rented  in 
that  neighborhood,  and  after  a  short  time  a  commit- 
tee was  formed  of  three  members  from  each  of  the 
three  nearest  churches — the  First  Church,  the  Frank- 
lin Street  Church,  and  the  Westminster  Church,  to 


80 

erect  the  present  Twelfth  Church,  in  west  Franklin 
street.  This  has  grown  to  be  a  most  important  mis- 
sionary enterprise,  and  promises  to  become  very 
soon,  under  its  present  efficient  pastor,  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Marshall,  a  self  sustaining  church. 

As  soon  as  the  Twelfth  Church  was  completed,  the 
South  Church  on  Federal  Hill  was  commenced,  in 
1854.  That  congregation  had  been  holding  their 
Sabbath  School  and  worshiping  in  an  inconvenient 
hall.  The  interest  felt  by  the  congregation  in  a  mis- 
sion under  the  care  of  our  own  ladies,  rendered  it 
comparatively  an  easy  matter  to  secure  this  most 
attractive  of  our  mission  church  edifices.  From  this 
brief  account  it  will  be  seen  that  our  denomination 
has,  during  this  last  period  of  our  congregational  his- 
tory, increased  from  three  to  twelve  churches,  in 
which  increase  this  church — the  mother  of  them  all 
— has  been  permitted  to  be  the  most  prominent  instru- 
ment. 

During  all  this  time  our  city  has  been  rapidly  ex- 
tending in  every  direction — and  that  central  portion 
of  it,  in  which  our  own  church  was  located,  was  be- 
coming fast  converted  into  a  mere  place  of  business. 
As  early  as  1852,  at  asocial  gathering  at  Mr.  Stirling's, 
the  necessity  of  an  eventual  removal  of  the  church 
was  discussed.     And  subsequently  a  number  of  per- 


81 

sons  belonging  to  the  congregation  convened  at  the 
parsonage  several  times,  and  at  length  determined  to 
purchase  the  lot  on  which  the  new  edifice  has  been 
erected.  In  October,  1853,  the  congregation  was  con- 
vened to  consider  the  question  of  removal,  and  after 
full  discussion  resolved  to  accept  the  offer  of  the  lot 
b}'  those  who  had  purchased  it,  and  to  go  forward 
with  the  erection,  as  soon  as  the  old  church  could  be 
disposed  of,  or  other  arrangements  be  made.  The 
next  autumn  plans  were  submitted  by  the  Hon.  J. 
Morrison  Harris,  the  chairman  of  that  committee,  and 
the  ground  was  broken  July,  1854.  This  is  not  the 
occasion  for  tracing  the  history  of  the  new  structure. 
At  the  time  of  its  commencement,  Messrs.  George 
Brown,  A.  Stirling,  A.  Murdoch,  Joseph  Taylor.  Wil- 
liam Buckler,  S.  Collins,  William  Harrison,  J.  Mor- 
rison Harris,  A.  Turnbull,  J.  Armstrong,  J.  I.  Fisher, 
and  A.  Winchester,  constituted  the  committee.  Dr. 
Collins  and  Mr.  Fisher  resigned  during  the  progress 
of  the  building,  and  Messrs.  H.  Easter  and  C.  Findley 
were  elected  in  their  places.  "  If  you  seek  their 
monument,  look  around  you." 

But  it  w^as  not  merely  in  the  work  of  church  ex- 
tension that  the  activities  of  the  congregation  were 
especially  called  out  during  this  last  period  of  its 
histor}'.       The  age  is  emphatically-     one    of    active 


82 

christian  benevolence.  And  within  the  last  twenty- 
five  years  our  own  denomination*  has  become  more 
completely  equipped  for  the  work  of  preaching  the 
gospel  to  every  creature. 

It  was  my  privilege  to  enter  the  ministry,  and  to 
come  to  this  charge,  at  a  most  favorable  period  in 
this  respect.  Previously  the  contributions  of  the 
churches  had  been  often  large,  but  they  were  occa- 
sional and  irregular.  The  material  prosperity  of  the 
country  however,  and  the  revivals  that  had  prevailed 
more  or  less  generally  for  nearly  one-third  of  a  cen- 


*  In  the  early  history  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  this  country,  as  of  all 
sister  denominations,  missions  were  impracticable.  The  churches  had  the 
greatest  difficulty  in  supporting  the  gospel  at  home.  The  ministers  were  do- 
ing real  missionary  work  in  their  own  congregations.  And  although  sur- 
rounded with  the  aborigines  of  the  country,  these  led  so  roving,  unsettled  a 
life,  and  the  facilities  for  reaching  them  were  so  few,  that  there  was  but  little 
encouragement  to  undertake  much,  even  if  the  church  had  possessed  the 
means.  Still  like  the  Macedonians,  in  the  great  trial  of  their  affliction,  their 
deep  poverty  abounded  unto  the  riches  of  their  liberality.  The  Presbyterian 
church,  from  its  commencement  in  this  country,  counseled,  prayed,  and  la- 
bored in  this  behalf.  Its  first  efforts  were  to  extend  the  gospel  in  the  desti- 
tute portions  of  our  own  land,  the  greater  part  of  which  was  missionary 
ground.  These  were  prosecuted  with  as  much  earnestness  as  limited  means 
would  allow,  till  the  war  of  Independence,  which  greatly  interrupted  every- 
thing of  this  kind.  When  however  the  General  Assembly  was  formed  in 
1789,  the  state  of  the  country  was  such  as  to  afford  increasing  encouragement 
in  this  work.  It  was  made,  at  the  very  first  meeting,  a  prominent  subject  of 
consideration,  and  has  never  been  lost  sight  of  since.  Nor  was  the  subject 
of  Foreign  Missions  entirely  overlooked.  As  early  as  1741,  application  was 
made  to  the  society  for  propagating  the  gospel  among  the  heathen,  which 
had  been  established  in  Scotland,  in   1709,   and   this   institution   appointed  a 


83 

tury,  in  which  this  congregation  had  very  graciously 
shared,  prepared  the  way  for  the  development  of  a 
more  S3'stematic  benevolence.  A  brief  connection  of 
a  few  months  with  one  of  our  Boards  had  impressed 
me  with  a  sense  of  the  importance  of  having  the  con- 
tributions of  the  churches  more  regular.  The  Session 
was  entirel}^  prepared  to  resolve,  at  one  of  its  first 
meetings,  that  an  opportunity  should  be  afforded  to 
the  members  of  the  congregation  to  contribute  to 
each  of  the  leading  religious  charities  of  the  day,  viz. 
Foreign  and  Domestic  Missions,  Education  for  the 
Ministry,  the  Bible,  Tract  and  Sunday  School  Socie- 
ties, and  the  Poor,  once  every  3^ear.  And  so  far  as  I 
am  aware,  this  has  been  regularly  done  ever  since, 


a  Board  of  Correspondence  in  New  Vork,  which  commissioned  first  Mr. 
Horton,  and  then  David  Brainerd,  and  subsequently  his  brother,  John 
Brainerd,  under  the  direction  of  the  Presbytery  of  Xew  Vork.  In  18()2  the 
work  of  missions  had  become  so  extensive  that  the  General  Assembly  found 
it  impracticable  to  give  that  attention  to  the  business,  during  the  brief  season 
uf  its  annual  sessions,  its  importance  demanded  ;  and  appointed  a  standing 
committee  on  missions  to  act  throughout  the  year.  This  was  the  origin  of 
our  various  Boards  under  which  this  ge-ieral  cause  of  benevolence  has  been 
developed  in  our  denomination  to  its  present  proportions.  This  committee 
was  reorganized  as  a  Board  of  Missions  in  181*i.  In  If^ll)  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation was  formed.  In  1837  that  of  Foreign  Missions— the  organization  tak- 
ing place  in  the  lecture  room  of  this  church.  In  1838  the  Board  of  Publica- 
tion. And  in  18.55  the  Committee  of  Church  Extension,  the  duties  of  which 
had  been  previously  discharged  for  several  years  by  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions.  These  constitute  the  special  agencies  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
which  co-operates  with  the  American  Bible  Society,  the  American  Tract  Soci- 
ety, and  the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  in  the  remaining  religious 
objects  of  benevolence  that  distinguish  our  age. 


84 

without  a  single  omission,  certainly  without  any  ex- 
ception in  the  case  of  our  own  Boards.  And  to  this 
simple  principle  ma}'  be  attributed  a  great  measure 
of  our  usefulness  in  this  depatment  of  christian  duty. 

For  the  first  ten  or  twelve  years  these  objects  were 
presented  principally  by  agents  visiting  the  congre- 
gation for  the  purpose,  and  annual  collections  were 
made.  These  amounted  to  an  average  of  three  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year  ;  besides,  during  that  time,  about 
ten  thousand  dollars  contributed  to  special  objects, 
including  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  at  the  time 
of  the  disruption,  the  special  effort  for  the  endow- 
ment of  the  Seminary  at  Princeton,  and  the  semi- 
centenary  fund  for  the  Board  of  Publication  ;  and  also 
about  ten  thousand  for  mission  churches  in  this  city 
— in  all  about  sixty  thousand  dollars. 

In  1846,  when  on  a  visit  to  Scotland,  Dr.  Chalmers 
handed  me  a  copy  of  his  "Christian  Economies*," 
in  which  he  developed  the  plan  of  supporting  and 
extending  the  gospel,  which  has  proved  so  successful 
in  the  "  Free  Church,"  rendering  it  one  of  the  most 
liberal   and  efficient  churches  in  Christendom.     He 


*This  pamphlet  was  subsequently  published,  with  an  introduction  by  Dr. 
Hodge,  through  the  liberality  of  a  distinguished  layman  in  New  York,  by 
our  Board  of  Publication., 


85 

warmly  urged  the  adoption  of  something  of  the  kind 
by  the  churches  of  this  country.  On  my  return  occa- 
sion was  soon  found  for  testing  its  applicabilit}-  to  our 
circumstances.  Within  a  few  months  the  Franklin 
Street  Church  colony  went  out  from  us,  taking  a 
large  amount  of  material  and  spiritual  strength.  The 
old  plan  of  making  contributions  had  previously  lost 
something  of  its  efficiency.  And,  this  with  the  decrease 
of  our  numbers,  threatened  a  very  serious  diminution 
of  our  collections  ;  so  that  the  necessity  of  some 
mode  of  awakening  additional  interest  in  this  object 
was  deeply  felt.  The  "  Free  Church"  plan  was  sub- 
mitted to  the  Session,  and  after  some  deliberation 
was  adopted  b}-  them,  although  not  without  some 
misgiving  lest  the  want  of  familiarity  with  such  a 
mode  of  contributing,  and  the  difficult}'  of  collecting 
their  contributions  from  so  large  a  number  might 
prevent  its  success.  Soon  after  its  adoption,  it  was 
tormall}'  explained  in  a  discourse  delivered  Septem- 
ber, 1848.  As  we  have  now  made  trial  of  it  during 
the  space  of  ten  or  twelve  3'ears,  it  may  be  said  that 
while  it  is  not  claimed  to  have  accomplished  all  that 
could  have  been  desired,  it  has  nevertheless  exceeded 
our  most  sanguine  anticipations  ;  requiring  less  toil, 
producing  less  friction,  and  3'ielding  far  greater  re- 
sults than  the  former  plan. 


86 

The  first  year  of  its  adoption,  notwithstanding  the 
congregation  had  been  diminished  b}^  the  outgoing 
colonies  to  form  the  Franklin  Street  and  Westminster 
Churches,  its  contributions  increased  from  three  thou- 
sand dollars,  (the  previous  average,)  to  more  than  four 
thousand  ;  the  second  year  to  five  thousand,  four  hun- 
dred ;  the  third  5'ear  to  over  six  thousand,  and  so  on, 
gradually  increasing  till  they  amounted  to  more  than 
ten  thousand  dollars  a  year,  notwithstanding  that  dur- 
ing this  period  we  lost  by  death  and  removals  contribu- 
tors who  had  given  twelve  hundred  dollars  annually. 
In  addition  moreover  to  these  regular  stated  contri- 
butions, the  congregation  has  given  an  average  of 
four  thousand  dollars  annuall}^  to  special  religious 
objects,  making  its  religious  benefactions  during  the 
last  eleven  3^ears  double  the  amount  of  those  of  the 
previous  twelve  years.  This  has  been  of  course 
independent  of  the  ordinary  expenses  of  the  church — 
amounting  to  about  forty  thousand  dollars,  and  the 
cost  of  the  new  building,  (over  and  above  the  pro- 
ceeds of  the  sale  of  the  old  church,)  about  eighty 
thousand  more.  To  some  this  may  seem  a  large 
sum  for  a  single  congregation  to  contribute  to  relig- 
ious purposes — an  amount  that,  with  the  divine 
blessing,  might  accomplish  a  vast  extent  of  good. 
And  yet  how  little  inconvenience  has  it  occasioned 
to  even  the  most  liberal  contributors. 


87 

Such  then  is  a  cursory  review  of  the  history  of 
this  congregation  during  its  occupancy  of  this  build- 
ing that  we  are  now  about  to  leave,  resigning  it  to 
other  hands,  and  for  different  uses.  It  is  with  feel- 
ings of  no  feigned  sadness,  that  we  go  out  to  even  a 
more  imposing  structure,  in  a  more  convenient  loca- 
tion. But  have  we  not  the  most  abundant  reason  to 
thank  God  that  we  have  enjoyed  its  privileges  and 
opportunities  for  good,  that  the  lines  have  fallen  to 
us  in  so  pleasant  places,  and  that  we  have  had  so 
goodly  a  heritage  so  long,  where  we  might  look  back 
upon  such  predecessors,  into  whose  labors  we  were 
allowed  to  enter  in  this  favored  age.  We  must 
acknowledge  indeed  that  our  praises  need  to  be  tem- 
pered with  the  profoundest  humility,  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  with  so  much  better  opportunities  and 
greater  facilities  as  the  result  of  the  labors  of  those 
who  have  preceded  us,  we  have  accomplished  so 
much  less  than  we  might  have  accomplished. 

But  now  that,  through  the  good  hand  of  our  God 
upon  us, we  have  been  permitted  to  see  our  new  enter- 
prise brought  to  so  desirable  a  completion,  and  are 
just  about  to  enter  upon  a  new  era  with  so  encourag- 
ing a  past  to  look  back  upon,  and  so  promising  a 
future  to  look  forward  to,  shall  we  not  this  day 
renewedly    consecrate   our   service    unto    the    Lord. 


What  may  we  not  accomplish,  if  with  cheerful 
hearts,  and  willing  minds,  with  prayerful  spirits, 
and  devoted  lives,  we  heed  the  call  of  God's  provi- 
'  dence  and  grace,  and  present  ourselves  a  living  sac- 
rifice, holy  and  acceptable  unto  God,  which  is  our 
reasonable  service. 


APPENDIX 


PASTORS 


Rev.  Patrick  Ai^lison,  D.  D., From  1763,  till  1802. 

Rev.  James  Ingws  D.  D., From  1802,  till  1819. 

Rev.  William  Nevins,  D.  D., From  1820,  till  1835. 

Rev.  John  C.  Backus,  D.  D., From  1830. 


MEMBERS    OF    THE    C  O  M  INI  I  T  T  E  E  . 


Names. 

John  Stevenson,    . 
John  Smith, 
William  Lyon, 
William  Buchanan, 
William  Smith, 
William  Spear, 
James  Sterret, 
Jonathan  Plowman, 
Alexander  Stenhouse, 
John  Boyd, 
Samuel  Purviance, 
John  Little, 
Samuel  Brown, 


When  Elected. 

Ceased 
TO  Serve. 

1764 

1765 

.  1764  . 

.  1780 

1764 

1788 

.  1764  . 

.  1781 

1764 

1814 

.  1764  . 

.  1790 

1764 

1782 

.  1764  . 

.  1773 

1765 

1775 

.  1765  . 

.  1789 

1770 

1787 

.  1770  . 

.  1773 

1771 

1771 

90 


Names. 

When  Elected. 

Ceased 
TO  Serve 

James  Calhoun, 

.     1771     . 

.     1820 

Robert  Purviance, 

1771 

1806 

W1I.I.IAM  Neill, 

.     1773     . 

.     1785 

Hugh  Young, 

1779 

1784 

John  Sterret,    . 

.     1779     . 

.     1785 

David  Stewart, 

1779 

1818 

Nathaniei.  Smith,     . 

.     1779     . 

.     1787 

Joseph  Donai^dson, 

1781 

1783 

Robert  Gii^mor, 

.     1781     . 

.     1822 

Samuei.  Smith, 

1782 

1832 

Wii.i,iAM  Patterson, 

.     1785     . 

.     1811 

Christopher  Johnston, 

1787 

1819 

Doctor  G.  Brown,      . 

.     1787     . 

.     1807 

Stephen  Wii^son,    . 

1789 

1821 

John  Swan, 

.     1790     . 

.     1818 

WlIvWAM   ROBB, 

1792 

1804 

J.  A.  Buchanan, 

.     1796     . 

.     1810 

George  Sai^mon,     . 

1804 

1807 

Coiv.  Stricker,    . 

.     1807     . 

.     1822 

James  McHenry,    . 

1810 

1822 

Amos  Wii,i,iams, 

.     1813     . 

.     1822 

Alexander  Fridge, 

1814 

1839 

Alexander  McDonald,    . 

.     1816     . 

.     1836 

James  Cox, 

1817 

1841 

Alexander  Nisbet, 

.     1819     . 

.     1854 

Robert  Smith, 

1821 

1828 

Robert  Gilmor,  Jr., 

.     1822     . 

.     1848 

John  Purviance,     . 

1822 

1854 

Jonathan  Meredith, 

.     1822     . 

.     1828 

91 


Namks. 

George  Brown, 
RoswELL  L.  Colt, 
John  T.  Barr, 
Henry  Bird, 
James  Armstrong, 
James  Swan, 
Alexander  Murdoch. 
James  Campbell, 
Francis  Hyde, 
Francis  Foreman,     . 
Thomas  Finley, 
A.  Stirling, 
c.  a.  schaeffer,    . 
Joseph  Taylor,  . 
J.  Spear  Smith, 
Stephen  Collins, 
William  Harrison. 
John  Armstrong, 
William  Buckler, 
Alexander  Turnbull 
J.  Morrison  Harris, 
Alexander  Wincheste 
James  I.  Fisher, 
Charles  Findlay, 
Hamilton  Easter, 
George  S.  Brown, 
Samuel  Mactier, 
Andrew  Reid,     . 


When  Elkcted. 

Ceased 
TO  Serve 

1825 

1859 

.  1828  . 

.  1835 

1829 

1835 

.  1831  . 

.  1835 

1832 

1839 

. 

.  1832  . 

.  1854 

1834? 

.  1835  . 

.  1838 

1836 

1852 

.  1836  . 

.  1854 

1838 

1846 

.  1830* 

1839 

1847 

. 

.  1843* 

1844 

1849 

.  1846  . 

.  1859 

1849* 

.  1849* 

1854* 

. 

.  1854  . 

.  1859 

1854* 

ER, 

.  1854  . 

.  1859 

1855 

1859 

.  1858* 

. 

1858* 

.  1859* 

. 

1859* 

.  1860* 

Those  marked  *  comprise  the  present  Committee. 


92 

RUIvING    ELDERS. 

In  1781,  the  following  entry  is  found  in  the  Records  of  the 
Committee  :  "The  peculiar  circumstances  of  our  Society  at 
its  first  formation,  especially  the  small  number  able  and 
willing  to  discharge  public  trusts  therein,  obliged  some  per- 
sons to  fill  different  employments  in  the  capacity  of  both 
what  are  called  elders  and  deacons,  or  committee  men.  But 
our  respectable  establishment,  and  happy  increase  now  fur- 
nish the  means  of  removing  this  inconvenience.  Be  it  there- 
fore remembered  that  the  following  gentlemen,  Dr.  William 
Lyon,  Messrs.  John  Smith,  William  Buchanan  and  James 
Sterret,  who  originally  acted  in  these  two  characters,  being 
previously  chosen  by  the  congregation,  agree  to  serve  under 
the  former  (that  of  elders)  alone."  Those  elected  under  this 
resolution  were  not  ordained. 

In  1804  we  find  another  volume  of  Records  opening  as 
follows:  "Be  it  known  that  Messrs.  Robert  Purviance, 
David  Stewart,  Christopher  Johnston  and  George  Salmon, 
having  been  previously  elected  to  the  office  of  the  eldership, 
in  the  First  Presbyterian  congregation  in  the  city  of  Balti- 
more, were  on  the  1st  day  of  April,  1804,  solemnly  ordained 
and  set  apart  to  said  office,  according  to  the  provisions  in 
chapter  xii,  Form  of  Government  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
U.  S.  A.  At  the  same  time,  Mr.  Ebenezer  Finley  (previously 
an  elder  in  Pennsylvania)  was  also  elected. 

In  1817  the  congregation  resolved  to  elect  elders  annually. 
This  however  was  continued  only  one  or  two  years,  the 
Synod  having  censured  it  as  a  departure  from  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Presbvterian  Church  in  the  United  States. 


93 


Namhs. 

When  Elkcted. 

Ceased 
TO  Serve 

William  Lyon, 

1781 

John  Smith, 

.      1781 

William  Buchanan, 

1781 

James  Sterret, 

.     1781 

William  vSmith,   '  . 

1781 

William  Buchanan, 

.     1781 

Robert  Gilmor, 

1781 

David  Stewart, 

.     1781 

Christopher  Johnston, 

1781 

Robert  Purviance, 

.     1804     . 

.     1806 

David  Stewart, 

1804 

1818 

Christopher  Johnston,    . 

.     1804     . 

.     1819 

George  Salmon,     . 

1804 

1807 

Ebenezer  Finley,     . 

.     1804 

John  McKean,         : 

1809 

Stewart  Brown, 

.     1809 

Maxwell  McDowell,   . 

1814 

1817 

James  Mosher,    . 

.     1814     . 

.     1817 

Thomas  Finley, 

1814 

1817 

David  Boisseau, 

.     1814     . 

.     1817 

James  Mosher, 

1818* 

1846 

William  Taylor, 

.     1818     . 

.     1830 

James  Delacour,    . 

1819 

1820 

Maxwell  McDowell, 

.     1829*  . 

.     1848 

George  Morris, 

1829 

1846 

David  S.  Courtnay,  . 

.     1834f  . 

.     1840 

John  N.  Brown, 

1834t.      • 

1852 

William  L.  Gill, 

.     1834 

=5^  Re-elected.                    t  Resigned. 

I  Removed  to  Westminster. 

94 


Names. 

Whiln  Elected. 

Ceased 
TO  Serve. 

John  Rodgers, 

1840 

David  Stewart, 

.      1840*   . 

.     1847 

John  Fai^coner,      .    •    . 

1840*      . 

1847 

W11.1.IAM  W.  Spence, 

.     1848 

W1LI.IAM  B.  CanfieIvD, 

1848 

In  1840  Messrs.  Henry  C.  Turnbull,  John  Haskell,  Moses 
Hyde  and  Ivancaster  Ould  were  elected  deacons  and  served 
till  they  removed  from  the  church. 

The  following  Minutes  from  the  Session  Book  record  the 
death  of  two  of  the  first  regularly  ordained  Elders  of  the 
church. 

ROBERT   PURVIANCE. 

On  the  evening  of  October  9th,  1806,  departed  this  life,  in 
the  seventy-second  year  of  his  age,  Robert  Purviance,  one  of 
the  Elders  of  this  congregation,  and  for  many  years  one  of 
the  Committee  entrusted  with  its  temporal  concerns.  Steady 
and  regular  in  all  his  habits — firm,  resolute,  resigned  and 
unrepining  amidst  his  trials — punctual  in  his  dealings — faith- 
ful in  his  duties — assiduous  in  his  attendance  on  public 
worship  and  the  various  institutions  of  religion — equally 
respectable  and  amiable  in  social  intercourse — as  a  father 
kind  and  provident — as  a  husband  generous,  constant  and 
invariably  affectionate  and  uniform  ;  consistent,  respectable 
through  life,  and  also  through  the  hasty  stages  of  a  painful 
malady  which  led  him  to  his  grave.  He  has  left  an  example 
ornamental  to  the  religion  he  professed,  and  worthy  of  gen- 
eral imitation. 

*  Removed  to  Franklin  street. 


95 

GEORGE    SALMON, 

On  the  morning  of  September  18th,  1807,  being  the  Lord's 
day,  while  the  congregation  were  assembled  for  public  wor- 
ship, departed  this  life,  after  a  few  days  of  severe  illness, 
George  Salmon,  one  of  the  Elders  of  this  congregation, 
and  one  of  the  Committee  entrusted  with  its  temporal 
concerns. 

Seldom  is  it  that  society,  civil  or  religious,  sustains  so 
heavy  a  loss,  or  the  domestic  circle  so  painful  a  bereavement, 
as  occurred  in  the  decease  of  this  most  estimable  man.  The 
felicities  of  this  life,  of  which  he  had  an  ample  share,  instead 
of  interfering  with  the  claims  of  Heaven,  as  they  too  often 
do,  exalted  his  soul  in  pure  and  unaffected  devotion  to  the 
Father  of  Lights,  the  giver  of  every  good  and  every  perfect 
gift.  His  religion  was  of  the  modest  and  unobtrusive  kind,  al- 
though he  never  shrank  from  the  acknowledgement  of  its 
obligations.  His  attainments  in  this  respect  were  great,  yet 
were  they  ever  accompanied  by  an  exemplary  humility.  His 
dependence  was  on  the  grace  of  God,  and  the  merits  of  the 
Redeemer.  His  morality  was  at  once  invigorated  and  charac- 
terized by  his  religion.  The  same  singleness  of  heart,  the 
same  meekness  of  temper — were  conspicuous  in  both.  Walk- 
ing humbly  with  his  God,  he  did  justly  and  loved  mercy  in 
his  relations  with  mankind.  Righteousness  predominated  in 
his  pecuniary  transactions,  and  yet  left  room  for  a  generosity 
as  diffuse  as  ever  opened  the  heart  or  hand  of  man.  In  his 
charities  he  was  indefatigable,  and  the  distinguishing  features 
of  his  mind  was  eminently  visible  in  them,  his  left  hand  not 
knowing  the  bountj-  which  his  right  hand  dispensed.  This 
church  will  long  have  reason  to  deplore  the  privation  of  his 


9G 

faithful  services — his  zealous  exertions  and  his  unremitted 
devotion  to  its  interests. 

"  His  witness  is  in  heaven  and  his  record  is  on  high." 

He  died  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age. 


EXTRACTS   FROM   THE    MINUTES   OF    THE   COMMITTEE. 

The  following  items  have  been  noted  in  reading  the  min- 
utes of  the  "  Committee,"  and  of  the  "  Session,"  and  are  here 
inserted,  with  the  page  where  the  action  on  them  may  be 
found,  as  a  matter  of  curiosity  and  interest. 

Mr.  Lee  was  chosen  the  first  precentor,  1765,  at  £  10  per 
annum.  In  January,  1765,  Mr.  Smith,  having  reported,  that 
Mr.  Lawson  was  willing  to  dispose  of  a  lot  of  ground  fit  for 
our  purpose,  eighty  feet  front,  and  extending  from  the  alley 
on  which  it  is  situated  to  Jones'  Falls,  for  sixty  pounds 
Pennsylvania  currency.  Mr.  Lawson  was  invited  to  meet  the 
committee  at  its  next  meeting,  and  the  offer  was  accepted. 
The  deed  from  Alexander  Lawson  to  William  Smith  and 
others,  is  dated  October  21st,  1765.  In  March,  1765,  Mr. 
Buchanan  acquainted  the  committee  that  Captain  Charles 
Ridgely  offered  for  the  i^log)  meeting  house  and  lot  one 
hundred  pounds,  and  all  the  ground  rent  due  on  said  lot  from 
the  date  of  the  lease,  allowing  the  congregation  the  free  use 
of  the  house  till  May  1766.  The  committee  accepted  this 
proposal. 

In  May,  1765,  the  committee  agreed  to  purchase  from  Mr. 
Lawson  forty  feet  additional  ground  adjoining  the  church 
lot,  for  a  parsonage. 


97 

In  1770,  a  storm  of  wind  carried  away  a  part  of  the  roof. 
In  1771  it  was  agreed  to  enlarge  the  church  and  build  a  par- 
sonage. In  February,  1772,  forty  feet  more  ground  was 
leased  from  Mr.  Andrew  Buchanan  ;  and  in  March,  1778,  the 
committee  obtained  a  release  of  the  reversion.  A  parsonage 
was  erected  on  what  is  now  the  bed  o'f  North  street,  in  1781. 
In  1784  it  was  found  necessary  to  secure  the  ground  in  front 
of  the  church  with  a  brick  wall.  It  was  at  first  sloped  and 
graded,  and  enclosed  with  a  wood  pailing — and  then  the 
brick  wall  w^as  erected,  and  the  steps  and  paved  walks  were 
made,  pp.  48,  75. 

In  1785  the  first  steps  were  taken  for  procuring  the  Burial 
ground  on  the  corner  of  Greene  and  Fayette  streets,  p.  50. 

In  1789  the  congregation  met,  after  notice  from  the  pulpit, 
to  confer  and  determine  on  the  subject  of  a  new  church. 
Sixteen  hundred  pounds  had  been  subscribed,  and  a  com- 
mittee w^as  appointed  to  carry  out  the  project,  viz.  Messrs. 
James  Calhoun,  George  Salmon  and  David  Williamson.  The 
church  was  to  be  eighty  feet  by  sixty  :  two  stories  high,  with 
a  belfry,  and  galleries  ten  feet  from  the  floor.  Messrs.  Gil- 
mor  and  Patterson  were  appointed  to  get  plans  and  estimates 
for  the  new  church,  pp.  78,  79. 

In  1790  the  congregation  applied  for  use  of  the  Court 
House  as  a  place  of  worship  while  the  church  was  building, 
p.  81.     This  application  was  granted. 

In  1792  Dr.  Allison  prepared  an  abridgement  of  the  Cate- 
chism, and  the  committee  recommended  its  use,  p.  90. 

In  1791  the  new  church  was  sufficiently  completed  for  use. 
In  May,  after  notice  on  three  successive  Sabbaths,  the  con- 
gregation met  to  inspect  the  accounts,  and  adopt  a  plan  for 
disposing  the  pews,   p.  86.     In    1792   the  committee  made  a 


98 

full  report  of  their  proceedings  from  the  beginning — a  very 
interesting  document,  pp.  91-3. 

The  towers  were  ordered  to  be  completed  1795  ;  Messrs. 
Salmon,  Swan  and  McKean,  committee,  p.  103. 

In  1797  the  committee  applied  for  an  act  of  incorporation, 
p.  111.  In  1798  it  was  declared  to  be  expedient  to  reduce  the 
ground  around  the  church,  p.  117.  In  1800  an  agreement 
was  made  with  reference  to  opening  North  lane  and  reducing 
the  ground  p.  121.  This  ground  had  been  used  for  a  number 
of  years  for  burial  purposes.  The  congregation  reserved  the 
right  to  continue  the  parsonage  on  part  of  the  street  as  long 
as  it  suited  them,  not  exceeding  ten  years.  They  retained  it 
till  1805,  p.  153. 

In  1821  Col.  Mosher  and  Mr.  William  Taylor  were  appointed 
a  committee  to  superintend  the  building  of  a  session  room, 
p.  184. 

In  1835  the  church  was  thoroughly  repaired  and  the  ceiling 
lowered  three  feet.     In  1837  gas  was  introduced. 

October,  1853,  the  congregational  meeting  was  held  on  the 
subject  of  removing  the  church,  p.  247.  November,  1854,  the 
plans  of  the  new  church  were  adopted. 


THE    IvAST   SABBATH    IN   THE    OLD   CHURCH. 

On  the  last  Sabbath  in  September,  1859,  the  First  Presby- 
terian Church  in  Baltimore,  in  accordance  with  a  previous 
notice,  assembled  to  worship  for  the  last  time  in  that  vener- 
able building.  It  having  become  known  that  this  would  be 
the  last  opportunity  to  engage  in  the  sacred  services  of  that 


99 

House  of  God,  many  who  had  formerly  attended  there,  and 
some  whose  ancestors  had  there  worshiped,  met  on  this  occa- 
sion with  the  present  members  of  the  congregation,  filling 
the  church  to  overflowing.  At  the  morning  service,  in  con- 
nection with  the  usual  exercises,  the  preceding  discourse, 
giving  a  brief  history  of  the  congregation,  was  delivered. 
At  the  afternoon  service,  the  Lord's  Supper  was  administered 
for  the  last  time  in  that  edifice.  The  pastor  was  assisted  by 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church  ;  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Dickson  of  the  Westminster  Presbyterian  Church  ; 
the  Rev.  G.  D.  Purviance,  recently  the  pastor  of  the  Fourth 
Presbyterian  Church,  himself  born  and  brought  up  in  this 
church,  and  descended  from  ancestors  who  were  among  the 
leading  founders  of  the  church,  and  who  had,  during  the 
whole  of  its  past  history,  afforded  in  successive  generations 
some  of  its  most  valuable  officers  ;  and  the  Rev.  Stephen 
Williams  the  oldest  Presbyterian  preacher  in  Baltimore,  who 
could  almost  look  back  to  the  opening  of  the  building. 
:\Iany  former  members,  who  had  removed  to  form  other 
churches,  but  desired  here,  amid  the  solemn  and  tender 
associations  of  the  past,  once  more  to  commemorate  the 
d3ing  love  of  their  Redeemer,  met  with  us. 

There  were  also  present,  with  the  single  exception  of  Mr. 
Henry  C.  Turnbull,  elder  in  the  Govanstown  Presbyterian 
Chapel,  who  was  detained  by  sickness,  all  the  surviving 
elders  and  deacons  who  hadservedin  this  church  ;  viz.  Messrs. 
John  X.  Brown  and  John  Falconer,  elders  in  the  Westminster 
church  ;  Messrs.  David  Courtenay  and  Lancaster  Quid,  elders 
in  the  Franklin  street  church  ;  Mr.  Moses  Hyde,  elder  in  the 
Aisquith  street  church  ;  Dr.  David  Stewart,  elder  in  the 
Annapolis  Presbyterian  church  ;  and   Mr.  John    H.    Haskell, 


100 

recently  an  elder  in  the  Franklin  street  church,  now  a  mem- 
ber of  this.  These  assisted  the  present  elders  of  the  church 
in  distributing  the  elements. 

The  service  was  opened  with  singing  and  prayer  by  Mr. 
Purviance.  Then  followed  the  reading  of  the  words  of  insti- 
tution, and  an  address  by  the  pastor.  The  bread  was  dis- 
pensed by  Dr.  Dickson,  and  the  cup  by  Dr.  Smith.  The  ser- 
vices throughout,  at  this  famil}^  re-union  of  the  oldest  Pres- 
byterian church  in  Baltimore,  were  most  tender  and  solemn. 
None  who  were  present  will  soon  forget  them,  but  it  has 
been  thought  desirable  to  preserve  this  brief  memorial. 


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